Heather Avalon says, “I always buy a package of Double Stuf Oreos when I start a new project.”

What’s your favorite snack food?

Comment here with one of Heather’s titles and your favorite snack food to be entered in this week’s contest!

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Good luck!

For information on our anniversary celebration visit, this page. We’ll accept comments through Friday, October 5.

by Heather Avalon

As a writer writing fiction, one of my primary tasks is to stay solidly in the point of view of a specific character.  As a writer writing about a polyamorous relationship between four people, I have the daunting task of writing from each person’s point of view.

As I work on the sequel to “Her Secret Incantations,” I find it is easiest to stay in one character’s head for a chapter, or at least a long section, before switching to the next character.

This can be a lot of fun, because it allows each character to have a voice, and is helpful in exploring the complex relationship between the four.

The difficult part is writing about the actual ménage experience.  When all four people are experiencing the same thing at the same time, it is hard to know whose voice to use.

I’m thinking that the thing that makes writing about a ménage difficult is the very thing that can make an actual ménage difficult.

A relationship between two people is hard enough.  Each has his or her own perspective, his or her own needs and their own fears.  Bring more people into the relationship and you add to the confusion.  How can you may sure everyone’s voice is heard?

Some polyamorous people seem to stay in pairings – they openly date more than one person, but generally spend time with each person in turn.  Some prefer the group experience, and want to enjoy more than one person at the same time.

It’s hard to say what defines polyamory, or what the typical polyamorous relationship might look like.  I know triples and quads that live together, but I have no idea what the inner workings of their households really are.

I have friends who live as a triple – one female, two males.  When meeting other people who identify as poly, the female will ask them this; “Do you all sleep in the same bed?”  If the answer is no, she will say, “Then you are swingers, not polyamorous.”  For her, being poly means that each person has equal standing with each other person in the relationship.

I have to say I don’t agree with that.  In the book I am now working on, the characters, who became involved with each other at a Pagan festival in the first book, are now living together.  There are two distinct couples, and each couple has their own bedroom.  From time to time, they also enjoy being together as a group, or as different couple match-ups.  Because they live together and love each other, I define them as polyamorous, rather than swingers.

My favorite part of writing this sequel so far is seeing how they handle the intricate workings of their relationship together.

I’ll be the first to say that my four characters are an ideal.  I’m writing fiction, not reality.  But from what I’ve seen and experienced in my life, I know that for some people, polyamory isn’t ever too much of a good thing – in fact, it’s just enough.

What is true in writing the fiction is also true in real life.  It’s difficult, but it’s doable.  The trick is in giving each person a voice in the relationship.

Her Secret Incantations
by Heather Avalon
erotic magickal contemporary romance
primary M/F relationships with F/F secondary relationships

Cambria has spent years hiding from her magical past. Now she must face her fears and unite with three magicians – Laura, a British stripper who had once been her lover, Xander, a darkly handsome druid, and Jordan, a reggae musician who plays an enchanted drum.
Together, this unlikely group must defeat a dangerous enemy, before that enemy destroys them.
Greater even than the magical power they share is their realization of its true source: the love that forges them into a family.

Purchase Direct From Pink Petal Books

Excerpt:

Breakfast at the Tavern reminded Laura of California. They offered things like yogurt parfait, avocado omelet, and tempeh. It was hard to feel sad or stressed as she sipped tea and watched the sunbeams playing on the aged, rustic floorboards.

Once their food arrived, Xander interrupted their polite small talk. “It seems we have a few things to discuss, both business and personal.”

Laura expected Cambria to say something snide, but she didn’t. She simply nodded.

“I will say this to both of you.” Xander continued. “I am very much interested in getting to know Cambria better. My intentions are romantic.”

He paused, as if waiting for a response, then continued. “I am very aware of the history that you two girls share, and I am also aware that I have never been Cambria’s favorite person. I am hoping we can all find some healing from the past. I also want you both to know how much I love and value you, Laura, as my priestess, my best friend, and sometimes, my lover. I also suspect, that if the two of you would let yourselves, there is still a lot of love and attraction between you.”

Laura felt tears stinging her eyes. She looked at Cam, who looked like she was ready to explode. Laura knew Cam couldn’t keep a serene demeanor forever. None the less, she was surprised when Cam spat words that might have been funny at another time.

“Wait just a minute, Alexander. Is this all just a way to manipulate yourself into bed with two hot girls?”

Xander smiled. “Well, I wouldn’t turn it down, but no. I just think the three of us have a complicated history, and many deep feelings between us. I think we need to put our cards on the table to make sure no one gets hurt.”

Laura found the courage to speak. “I agree with Xander.” She looked directly at Cambria. “Cam, I was so hurt when we stopped being friends. I was hurt when you and Ray chose each other and left me out. I was hurt that you never explained to me that your feelings for Ray were… well, were what they were. Now I am afraid the same thing is happening with Xander. I am afraid for myself, and I am afraid for the Council. The Council can’t stand another rift. And I, I don’t think I could stand to lose you again, Cam. And, Xander, you are such an integral part of my life now. I don’t think that I could lose you and keep myself. And, I have to admit, I am lonely. I want someone to want me the way that men always end up wanting Cambria. . .the way that I have always wanted Cambria.” There. She had said. . .everything.

She expected Xander to be the first to speak, but he wasn’t.

Cambria reached over and took Laura’s hand The gesture was more tender than Laura had thought Cam capable of. “Laura, no one is going to lose anyone. There has been far too much loss already. I am so sorry for the way I played things before. I was young, I was confused… I am not trying to make excuses, but I want you to know that I never wanted to hurt you, and in the process of doing so, I hurt myself as well. It is hard for me to acknowledge feelings, to make myself vulnerable, to make commitments. It is especially hard because I seem to have the ability to honestly love more than one person at the same time. I don’t know how to deal with that, so I have chosen to stay single since Ray died. I’m lonely, too, Laura. And I have missed you, so much.”

Laura had no time to react before Cam switched her gaze to Xander.

“Xander,” Cam began. “There was a time when I blamed all evil in the world on you. Now I can see two things clearly. One is that I probably judged you harshly. Two is that you really have grown and changed a lot. No doubt there is an energy between us. But if it is going to hurt Laura, you and I will not explore those possibilities.”

“I agree, Cam,” Xander said slowly. “I have always been a bit in love with both of you. I don’t want to hurt either of you. I will bow to your wisdom in this matter.”

“No,” said Laura. “It’s not that I don’t want the two of you to be together. It’s that… well, it’s that I want to be with you too.

Purchase direct from Pink Petal Books.

Her Secret Incantations by Heather Avalon
a contemporary novel of pagan magick
primary relationships M/F with F/F secondary relationship
novel length (approx 45,000 words)
ISBN# 978-0-9848970-8-7
Cover Art by Valerie Tibbs

BUY DIRECTLY FROM PINK PETAL BOOKS

Cambria has spent years hiding from her magical past.  Now she must face her fears and unite with three magicians – Laura, a British stripper who had once been her lover, Xander, a darkly handsome druid, and Jordan, a reggae musician who plays an enchanted drum.

Together, this unlikely group must defeat a dangerous enemy, before that enemy destroys them.

EXCERPT:
Xander stood by the passenger door, a glass of champagne in his hand. She had to admit, he looked every bit as good as she did. He wore a good dark suit with a casual grace that was classy, without being pretentious. He had tied his long hair back in a silver hairclip. For a moment, neither spoke, each taking in the vision of the other. Then, he approached her. He took her arm and handed her the champagne.

Inside the limo, Cam began to wonder if Xander’s champagne was as enchanted as her incense had been. She found herself feeling lighter and more carefree than she had in years. Conversation flowed along with the champagne. Almost against her will, Cambria realized she was beyond challenging Xander, and even beyond flirting with him. She was actually talking with him as a peer, maybe even as a friend.

The Tavern was just as she had remembered it. Only the staff had changed. For this Cambria was grateful. She didn’t want anyone to remember her and ask about Ray. Of course, the food, and the atmosphere, were exquisite, but Cambria barely noticed. As the evening wore on, Cambria was becoming more sure that the most delicious thing on the menu would be Xander himself. So captivated by this new Xander, she began to forget her reasons for hating him in the first place. When he said something witty, her laughter was spontaneous and genuine. When he took her hand and led her to the dance floor, she felt a spark of energy leap from his hand to hers. Gone were her schemes of captivating him and leaving him cold, it was she who was captivated.

Cambria hadn’t feel that kind of tug on her heart in years; this week she had felt it twice. She had felt it at Sloane’s with Laura, and now, tonight, with Xander. Cam couldn’t help thinking this wasn’t coincidence; perhaps Laura’s interruption of her quiet life would serve a destiny beyond the business of the Council. What that destiny might be was unclear. All Cam knew was that, for the first time in a long time, she felt truly alive.

In the limo on the way back to the festival site, they kissed sweetly for the first time. Cam felt a burning emptiness inside her, and for a moment wanted nothing more than for him to fully take her right there in the limousine. Instead, she pulled away from him and looked him directly in the eyes.

“Will you take me to your place tonight, Alexander?” She asked. His answer surprised her.

“No, Cam, I won’t.” he said softly, stroking her cheek with his thumb.

“I wanted tonight to be a beginning, not an end. I do want you, maybe more than I’ve ever wanted anyone before. But that’s why I want to wait. I think there could be something real here between us. I feel it. I know you feel it too.”

Cam looked down, afraid of the intensity of his words and of the fire in his eyes. Afraid, too, that she did feel it, and didn’t have a clue what that might mean.

Xander went on, his sonorous voice was almost hypnotizing. “Our agreement was dinner and nothing more. I want to honor that agreement. I want you to know how much I have enjoyed our time together, and how much I hope that you will consent to let me take you out again as soon as our council business will allow.”

At the mention of the Council, Cam stared hard at him, angry for a moment. Xander caught her expression and understood.

“No, Cam, I am not wooing you romantically in order to win your support for the Council. But the council business is as much of a reality as what we have between us. I would like to keep those two things separate.

Cam nodded.

Xander continued. “I want to take you out again, and again. I want us to get to know each other. Then, and only then, will I ask you to welcome me to your bed. If you consent, you will make me a happy man. If you don’t, you can rest assured that you will always have my friendship, and my respect.”

With that, he kissed her on the cheek as the limo pulled up to her camper.

Cam was too impressed to be very disappointed. Well played. She stood in the night air, hand on the camper door, reluctant to go inside and let the evening end. She watched the limo’s red tail lights light up the trees as it pulled away.