Inspirational Mondays - to collaborate or not to collaborate

My inspiration today is a fellow erotic romance writer, the fabulous Susan Laine (http://www.susan-laine-author.fi/61879159) . We’ve become good friends discovering lots of things in common like we hate vampire stories but love werewolf ones. We jokingly said we should collaborate on a werewolf story (M/M/F) bringing together our mutual European roots (Susan is Finnish, and I, of course, am English) which combined our usual writing styles and for fun started to plot a story outline. This led onto character profiles, description of the setting, wolf behaviour story-building and so on. And we found it ABSOLUTELY invigorating to bounce ideas off someone as like-minded as the other. It was such fun and energising. I can’t emphasise what an adrenaline rush it was – I think everyone should collaborate with someone else at least once in their lives even if they go no further than the ‘brainstorming’.

Along the way we said ‘is this for real, shall we actually do this?’ So decided to write a chapter each and passed it back to the other to see if our writing styles meshed and the other was taking the characters in the same direction. Part of us was worried about being possessive of ‘our characters’ but since we planned the story together neither of us have felt that way and both of us are happy to concede to the other if they have a better idea.

I know that other writers have had problems when collaborating and it has ended long standing friendships. I have already indicated possible problems with character development but what happens if one writer becomes more enthusiastic than the other or even bored or have other commitments so that one person gives more time to it than the other. These are all things we need to consider before we go any further so all I can say is …….. watch this space! (Of course, if you hear about a Finnish woman murdering an English one you know what has happened and not to hold your breath waiting for a werewolf story).

Jen

Friday funnies

One day, a man came home and was greeted by his wife dressed in a very sexy nightie. "Tie me up," she purred, "and you can do anything you want." So he tied her up and went golfing.

Have a nice weekend.

Jennifer

Wednesday writing, The Apostrophe

The Apostrophe. I am going to sound like an old fuddy-duddy, a geek and various other terms but I do get annoyed when people don’t use the apostrophe correctly (or at all). I find a lot of people just don’t bother in emails, texts, message forums and that drives me around the bend.

I know that some people are unsure of when to use it so here are some simple tips:

• Firstly, use it to indicate an abbreviated word/phrase like can’t, won’t, haven’t, you’re (when short for you are), they’re (when short for they are), it’s (when short for it is).
• (And use the correct word – you cannot use ‘your’ as short for ‘you are’. You would only use that to indicate that something belongs to someone, eg, your book. Similarly with their as in ‘their book’. ‘There’, on the other hand, you would use to indicate where something is, eg, over there).
• And secondly, use the apostrophe to indicate something belongs to someone like Jen’s books, Jen’s blog. DO NOT USE it when indicating something belongs to ‘it’, eg, its car park. In this case it is like using the word ‘his’ as in ‘His car park’. You wouldn’t put in the apostrophe then even though it belongs to them.
• DO NOT USE it when you have plurals, eg, 'the workers arrived early today' – not unless you were referring to something which belongs to more than one worker so "the workers’ car park" in which case the apostrophe goes on the outside (unless you have a single worker in which case see the second example above).

Hope that helps a little and I should also emphasise  I don’t get it right all the time but at least I try.

Jennifer

Wednesday writing

I promised you more about the ‘Friends and Acquaintances’ series.

They are all about a group of female friends who fall in love with someone who is a friend, acquaintance or colleague (as are the 'Doms & Acquaintances' series but the difference is that the Friends' series is lighted hearted and humorous and more about analysing erotic romance while the Doms is more intense about analysing BDSM).

Just Good Friends – is about Jessie and Sam. Jessie is incredibly shy and Sam is her best friend who, like her, is a sci-fi geek and they meet up regularly to discuss their latest book or film. At one of their meetings Sam accidentally discovers Jessie’s secret stash of erotic romances and, pretending an interest in this genre, persuades her to discuss one of those at their next meeting. One thing leads to another and they end up practising some of the scenes they are reading. Along the way Jessie’s shyness recedes as Sam helps her explore her sexuality but neither expected to fall in love.

Friendly Seduction – is about Lissa and Matt. Lissa has had a crush on Matt for a long time but he hasn’t noticed going about his usual business of writing sci-fi. When he is told by his editor to add more sex to his stories he turns to his cousin, Gina, who happens to be Lissa’s flatmate. Gina engineers Lissa to end up alone with Matt whose eyes are finally opened. Not realising the crush Lissa has on him he invents a story whereby he needs help with his sex scenes just to get his hands on her but the story they plot out is so good he starts writing it for real. But will they open their hearts to each other before Matt finishes writing his story?.

Friend or Foe (this book is due out in May - picture to come nearer the time) – this is the final in this series and is about Gina who is strongly attracted to a work colleague, Dan, who enjoys winding her up. The queen of insults she gives as good as she gets. However, when he finds out she is writing an erotic romance enacting erotic movie scenes he starts to tease her unmercifully but gradually gets interested in her writing and Gina starts to rely on him for support instead of insulting him. This includes practising some of her scenes on a piano, in a car and in the bath but when do they realise their feelings are more than just good sex with a friend?(Everything you want to know about what it is like to become an erotic romance writer I have imbued into this story!)

The characters from the Friends' series do cross-over into the Doms' series so any of these six chararacters mentioned above may appear or be referred to in that series (and vice-versa). For example Jessie announces her pregnancy in Doms 2. Also be aware that all six books from the two series are in chronological order starting with Friends 1 then Doms 1, Friends 2 and so on so that by the end of Doms 3 Jessie will have had her baby!

Jennifer

Inspirational Mondays

For inspirational Mondays today I’ve collated some of my reviews – the type that make you feel good (from editors, readers, professional reviewers, or fellow writers).

• This is a light-hearted, sweet, romantic story about a couple of book-loving friends with a mutual love of Sci-Fi (yay! nerdsex!). The characters come across as really likeable people well suited to each other. (Just Good Friends).
• This was a short story which was a nice read (Just Good Friends).
• There were some very funny lines, and the fact that both characters were geeks was interesting.  (Just Good Friends)
• This is one of those love stories that leaves you feeling good. This is an exciting story, no dull moments and that oh so romantic ending, but that ending wont come easy. Great story, well written. (The Submission Challenge)
• Wow! This was one really good book. I can’t wait to read the next one in this series (The Submission Challenge)
• Rebecca has some really great comebacks, and her snarky comments make her a fun and engaging character that works really well with Jon’s. (The Submission Challenge)
• The banter between the hero and heroine works well to show the natural progression of their relationship, especially as the reader gets to see Lissa become more comfortable with Matt. (Friendly Seduction).
• The ending was set up well, and it was romantic and sweet, which suits the characters’ relationship. (Friendly Seduction)
• I can't remember when I've laughed so hard while reading an erotic romance. It's sweet and it's hot and it's funny. The humor here is at the heart of the story and of the romance. Whoever said you couldn't have a novella of ninety pages with a good plot are proven wrong here. Jennifer Denys makes this story a sensual experience of two people finding surprising and arousing means past their shy attraction for each other. Every page is a delight. Humorous, sensual and loving. Sex has never been so sweet and so much fun. Highly recommended! (Friendly Seduction)

It’s interesting that as I grow as a writer the reviews are getting better! I particularly liked that last one – naturally. And as a ‘teaser’ for the one out next month (Submissive Training) these were a couple of the editor’s comments:

• The scene where Ben cares for Kat after she gets her nipples pierced was a great way to show how he cares for her. He’s compassionate, which enhances his status as a Master since he knows how to treat his submissive. 
• Ellie’s enthusiasm meshes well with Kat’s reluctance, and their friendship helps push the limits of Kat’s character to enhance the development of the internal conflict between her and Ben.

Jennifer

Friday funnies

The following are all replies that British women have put on Child Support Agency forms in the section for listing the father's details.

These are genuine excerpts from the forms.
*1. Regarding the identity of the father of my twins, child A was fathered by Jim Munson. I am unsure as to the identity of the father of child B, but I believe that he was conceived on the same night.

*2. I am unsure as to the identity of the father of my child as I was being sick out of a window when taken unexpectedly from behind. I can provide you with a list of names of men that I think were at the party if this helps.

*3. I do not know the name of the father of my little girl. She was conceived at a party at 36 Grand Avenue where I had unprotected sex with a man I met that night. I do remember that the sex was so good that I fainted. If you do manage to track down the father, can you send me his phone number? Thanks.

*4. I don't know the identity of the father of my daughter. He drives a BMW that now has a hole made by my stiletto in one of the door panels. Perhaps you can contact BMW service stations in this area and see if he's had it replaced.

*5. I have never had sex with a man. I am awaiting a letter from the Pope confirming that my son's conception was immaculate and that he is Christ risen again.

*6. I cannot tell you the name of child A's dad as he informs me that to do so would blow his cover and that would have cataclysmic implications for the British economy. I am torn between doing right by you and right by the country. Please advise.

*7. I do not know who the father of my child was as all squaddies look the same to me. I can confirm that he was a Royal Green Jacket.

*8. Peter Smith is the father of child A. If you do catch up with him, can you ask him what he did with my AC/DC CDs?

*9. From the dates it seems that my daughter was conceived at Euro Disney; maybe it really is the Magic Kingdom.

*10. So much about that night is a blur. The only thing that I remember for sure is Delia Smith did a program about eggs earlier in the evening. If I'd have stayed in and watched more TV rather than going to the party at 146 Miller Drive, mine might have remained unfertilized.

Have a good weekend.

Jennifer

Friendly Seduction

Yeah!

Friendly Seduction is out today via the publisher’s website. It will go on Amazon in about a month. http://www.bookstrand.com/friendly-seduction

This is the second in the 'Friends' series and a couple of things have been brought home to me - that writing a series helps book sales from your back list because two copies have been bought of the first book in that series, Just Good Friends, after Friendly Seduction started being advertised for pre-orders. These were the first sales of JGF since 22 November (although there have been lots of sales on Amazon).

There will be one more book in the 'Friends' series (Friend or Foe which has just been accepted by the publisher for release in May (DOUBLE YEAH!) and I will go into more detail about the series and the three books in it next week.

The other thing is that the pre-sales of the first book in the 'Doms' series (which was the second book I wrote) took more pre-sales than either of the two books in the 'Friends' series together and then some. I suspect this is because the 'Friends' series is humorous, almost romantic comedy with just mild BDSM whereas the 'Doms' is very much about exploring the Dominant/submissive lifestyle (hence the title of that book The Submission Challenge) and that topic is something that readers want to read about! Therefore I suspect the next book out next month (Submissive Training) which is the second in the 'Doms' series, will do well. (At least I hope it will!)

Jennifer

Inspirational Mondays

As this is the year of the 2012 London Olympics it is only right to start the year off a comment on them and how inspirational is how exciting it is to have the Olympics here in my own country during my lifetime! (And I have tickets to go!!!!)

Jennifer

Extract from Friendly Seduction

As promised here is an extract from my forthcoming book, Friendly Seduction (available now for pre-orders from http://www.bookstrand.com/friendly-seduction )

In this scene Matt has invented a scene from a story he hasn’t written just to be able to get his hands on Lissa who thinks she is helping him practice scenes from his sci-fi story and he has just tied her up.

“What would you be doing if you were the girl?” he asked softly, his head close to her ear. He tried to breathe normally, but her closeness was arousing him.

Silent for a moment, she then stated in a breathy voice, “It depends how hunky he is. If she wanted him, she wouldn’t struggle much.” She giggled.

He did slap her butt this time, but gently. “Stop it, you minx. She doesn’t want to be taken because it will mean being sent back to her owner.”

She turned in his arms, her face showing her astonishment. “Her owner! What sort of future is this?”

Grinning at her fierce expression, he quickly invented a story. “She put herself into servitude to pay off debts but then ran away from her cruel and ugly master who wants her back—hence the bounty hunter.”

“Okay, so she doesn’t want to be taken, then. Particularly if her owner is ugly,” she retorted with a mocking tone. “Therefore she’ll be screaming blue murder and continually struggling to get free.”

Turning her back, he continued, “Let’s assume I am incredibly muscular and no amount of struggling will get you free. In fact, she is so busy struggling she hasn’t noticed he has managed to pin her hands to the hook in the wall of the spaceship.” He proceeded to move her back to the door. Turning her to face him, he lifted her bound hands and tied them to the hook and then stepped back a pace. God, she looked gorgeous standing there tied up with nothing to stop him touching her body. Maybe there is something in BDSM after all.

“That’s a cop-out.”

He was confused. How did she know what he was thinking? “What is?”

“When the guy manages to get the girl to where he needs her to be because she is too busy struggling, looking around her, or distracted by something.”

“Hey, that’s called literary license!”

“Hmm. I’m not convinced. Neither will your readers be taken in.”

Pausing a moment to think, he then suggested, “I’ll just have to spend time describing her gorgeous body as she is tied there. I think the readers will forgive this slight transgression if I do that.” He wasn’t inventing this as the body before him was gorgeous.

Jennifer

Inspirational Mondays

Hi everyone

Happy New Year to you all. My inspiration today is me! 2011 was an amazing year for me, not least because I became a writer – which had been a lifelong dream. I am still bouncing off the walls with excitement and long may it continue.

My first book Just Good Friends came out in September, and then my second book, The Submission Challenge, was released in November.

Here is the cover of my third book – Friendly Seduction – which will be released in a variety of e-book formats on 11 January through http://www.sirenpublishing.com/ although it will be available for pre-orders from sometime this week.

This is the second in the Friends & Acquaintances series and you get to meet all the women in both the Friends and Doms series (this is the linking book to both series).

In this one Lissa, who has a huge crush on Matt, is manoeuvred into helping him on his latest story (manoeuvred by the machinations of the other women!). As she helps him he becomes aware of how much he is attracted to her and, not realising the depth of her attraction to him, he uses his story as a way of seducing her by asking her to help him practice some of the scenes (which are naturally the sex scenes, of course!).

This is a direct sequel to Just Good Friends in that it is about a woman who falls in love with someone she already knows and is very light-hearted and humorous. In fact I had great fun taking the mickey out of my own genre with this one. Matt has been told to include more sex in his story so Lissa explains what works and what doesn’t work in erotic romances like the fact that the hero always has to be tall, hunky and good-looking, never short, fat and ugly! (We women can be so fickle!)

I will put up an extract on Weds.

Jennifer