It may have been a while, but it’s time to celebrate another #BookBirthday! I am pleased to announce that Cwtch Press‘s Blood in the Rain 4 is now available for your reading pleasure. Editors Cecilia Duvalle and Sara Dobie Bauer bring you eighteen original short stories that feature vampires.
In my story, Submission in Sevastopol, Nastasiya is a spymaster living in Ukraine. She is an ancient, mysterious figure with dominating proclivities.
Her target is GRU officer Evgeny Bordyukov, who poses as a wine distributor in Sevastopol. They share a passionate evening that ends with a surprise, which I shan’t spoil for you.
Here’s a taste from my latest short story, Submission in Sevastopol:
The doorbell rang and she heaved a deep sigh. Nastasiya waited a beat, then made her way downstairs and opened the heavy oak door. “You’re looking as fine as ever, pet. Come in and remove your shoes and socks. You will have no need for them.”
Evgeny Bordyukov bent forward slightly, then followed her into the elegant townhouse. He shut the door behind him, placed both his leather briefcase and a slim black bag on the floor, and slipped off his loafers. She watched as he lifted each leg to peel off his black socks. After he stuffed them into his shoes, he turned to face her.
Nastasiya swiftly slapped his beautiful, bearded cheek. “Did I give you permission to look at me?”
Clutching the side of his face, Evgeny answered, “No, Mistress.”
“And what happens when you take what is not granted?”
“Punishment, Mistress,” he whispered.
“Do you wish to be punished, slave?”
He remained silent, mulling it over. Nastasiya was a patient woman and would have no qualms leaving him here in the foyer to think about his answer. This evening, however, she required urgency. She reached out and squeezed his testicles with a tight grip.
Evgeny’s knees buckled and his face screwed with a mixture of pain and pleasure. His mouth gaped open, but his lips turned upward, while his eyes were shut, and he’d tossed his head back. Oh yes, this will do nicely.
“I’ll not ask again, slave.”
She squeezed a little harder and he panted, “Yes, Mistress!”
“Yes what?”
“Yes, I wish to be punished.”
Be sure to snag your copy of Blood in the Rain 4 here. Happy reading!
Oh boy, it’s time for another #BookBirthday! Coming to you from the fabulous Rachel Kramer Bussel is the self-published anthology titled Candy Lovers: Sugar Erotica. It’s a delectable collection of sweet and sexy short stories.
Check out the blurb:
If you love the sweet taste of sugar melting on your tongue, the allure of chocolate and the exciting feeling of licking a creamy ice cream cone, you’ll adore Candy Lovers: Sugar Erotica. These 35 enticing stories of food play delve into the fun of popular desserts used in the most tactile, sensual ways. These men and women pursue their sexual fantasies, opening wide to indulge an offered treat or presenting their bodies to be used for sticky, arousing, totally hot carnal celebrations.
Whether whipping up the perfect confection in the kitchen, feeding a partner a sweet treat direct from your fingertips (or other body parts) or indulging all their senses in a sugar orgy, the characters in these sexy stories are sure to whet your appetite and turn you on. From couples using dessert to add even more intimacy to their relationships to new passions fueled by a shared love of the pleasures of the tongue, Candy Lovers is sure to arouse you. Edited by the award-winning Rachel Kramer Bussel, these are the perfect erotic tales to read whenever you’re in the mood…with your favorite candy nearby.
The story I wrote for this collection is titled “Box of Colors.” The story features a married couple on their second anniversary. Keeping the spark alive in a long-term relationship can be a challenge, but the reward for using one’s imagination is, shall we say, delicious.
Isn’t this a wonderful surprise?
Treat yourself to this excerpt:
She heard the rustling of tissue paper, followed by a sweet, delicate scent filling her nostrils. Her mouth began to water.
“Open your mouth. Take a bite, chew, then swallow. Tell me what flavor is on your tongue.”
Yes, please. Sasha parted her lips and felt the light yet firm cookie between her teeth. She bit down, letting the jam fall into her mouth. Before Josh could pull it away completely, she sucked a little, wanting to receive every crumb. When the treat finally left her face, she chewed, savoring the bright, sour taste mixed with sugary goodness. She was instantly reminded of drinking fresh lemonade on one of their first dates.
Sasha swallowed, then licked the corners of her lips. “That one was lemon.”
In a low voice, Josh said, “And how did you like it?”
“I loved it. It reminded me of the first Orioles game you took me to.”
“Good. You missed some. Don’t move.”
His warm hands pressed on the tops of her thighs. His hot, slick tongue licked at the corners of her lips, collecting the flecks of hardened meringue. Sasha turned her lips to try and meet his tongue, but he was too quick for her. She groaned in frustration.
Nine sizzling, sexy stories of self-love and self-discovery, edited by (and with a story from) Jillian Boyd, featuring Dena Hankins, T.C. Mill, Jordan Monroe, Leandra Vane, LN Bey, Jones, Hollis Queens and Rachel Woe.
In this sensually spellbinding collection, nine authors explore just a couple of the ways one can get themselves off – stories that don’t just hone in on the how, but explore the why, and the “oh… oh my” Dancing with Myself delves into the heads and between the sheets of a long-distance submissive and her dominant, a cam girl reminiscing, an artist entranced with her unusual subjects and many more.
My story, “Investigation,” involves a woman undergoing a background check interview. Anyone who has gone through these knows that the questions can get rather personal, which is by design. The interviewers are also trained to speak in measured tones so as to comfort and relax the applicant. If the interviewer is hot, well, that’s a bonus.
Check out this excerpt:
The junction between her thighs was hot and damp. Exposing herself had always turned her on, but exposing her mind and soul had surprised her. She’d always been an especially guarded person, yet falling open like that to a stranger made her feel both vulnerable and safe. The whole notion shocked her and she couldn’t ignore the thrum within her.
“Are you, or have you ever been, involved in any plot to overthrow government institutions?” he asked.
Tara watched his plump lips form the syllables and glide over his perfect white teeth. She wondered what those lips felt like pressing against her neck, and what those teeth could do to one of her taut, dark nipples. “No,” she answered.
I know y’all are probably crazy busy with the holidays, but today is another #BookBirthday! This one comes from Cleis Press and is titled The Big Book of Submission, Volume 2. Editor Rachel Kramer Bussel has put together another incredible collection of wildly sexy short stories that are sure to give you the right amount of thrills and spice this holiday season.
I mean, check out this cover!
Here’s the blurb:
Whether you’re simply curious about submission or regularly revel in the delights of BDSM, these sixty-nine erotic short stories about submissives will turn you on! From participating in a musical recital that takes a very kinky turn to making a grocery run while using sex toys to indulging in a risqué office encounter during working hours, these subs delight in obeying (or deliberately disobeying) their masters and mistresses in public and in private. They’re rewarded and punished the most wicked of ways that will leave you breathless. Edited by Rachel Kramer Bussel, with stories by Selena Kitt, Jade A. Waters, Dorothy Freed, and Sommer Marsden, among other talented writers, The Big Book of Submission, Volume 2 offers arousing tales that delve deep into the thrills of spanking, bondage, power dynamics, service, exhibitionism, erotic adventure, and much more.
This story presented a unique host of challenges. It had to be no longer than 1200 words while still being a complete story. It had to be erotic. It had to be about submission. It had to be kinky and, above all things, consensual.
In order to achieve all of this, I decided to break a rule or two. This story is written in the second person, meaning the narrator puts you, the reader, directly into the experience. You, the reader, are entrenched in the text. In this sense, the reader gets to explore what the sub goes through in the scene. With that in mind, I hope y’all enjoy the ride!
All spankings are pleasurable and encouraged.
I know y’all want a sneak peak. To sate your curiosity, here’s an excerpt from my short story, Symphony of Submission:
“You’re too quiet. We must break that.”
You don’t look up at Sir. Your back is sore, yet you dare not relax. Years of kneeling in pretend prayer have you disciplined to remain composed and rigid. Your eyes are downcast in supplication. The air is cool, raising goose bumps down each limb, hardening your nipples. You fidget with your fingers behind your back.
“Nothing to say to that, pet?”
When Sir asks a question of you, Sir expects an answer.
Your voice trembles. “I am yours to command, Sir.”
Don’t forget to grab your copy of The Big Book of Submission, Volume 2 today! Happy holidays, and happy reading!
It’s time for another #BookBirthday! This one comes from SinCyr Publishing and is titled Working It. I’m so excited to share this collection of sixteen sexy stories with you!
Here’s the blurb:
Everybody’s working it, grinding away at the nine to five, when all we really want to do is escape to take a hot tumble on the boss’s desk. Let this sexy collection whisk you away from the office and into sixteen stories that explore sex in the working world. Wink at that sexy security guard, get revved up for a conference tryst and let love break down the language barrier with a new co-worker. Will you succumb to the casual charm of your new client, tip over the edge for your warehouse trainee, or get a long-thought of revenge on the supervisor making your life hell? White collar. Blue collar. It doesn’t matter what collar you’re wearing once the shirts come off. Leave the office behind with Working It.
My story, Less Than Professional, started out as an excuse to write about my fascination with NPR. You see, my day job has a punishing commute. In order to stay an informed citizen, I cope with the traffic by listening to Morning Edition on the way down and All Things Considered on the way home. If the traffic going home is extra horrendous, I get to enjoy a glimpse into the business and financial world with Marketplace.
One of the hosts of Marketplace is a man named Kai Ryssdal and I’m here to admit that I have a shameless admiration for his voice. See, listening to the radio has a bit of a vintage feel to it. Even though the news is timely, listening to voices without seeing the people behind the stories is fascinating as well as old-fashioned. In a good way, of course.
But more importantly, I really enjoy juxtaposition. There’s a young man from Norway on Instagram and he may or may not have been physical inspiration for my hero in Less Than Professional, Lucas Drake.
By the way, he’s an officer in the Norwegian Navy. Yes, he’s an actual Viking.
I fell in love with the idea of a big, burly man having a deep, articulate voice for radio and the ability to communicate complex financial ideas to the general public. What happens to this man? You’ll have to read Less Than Professional and the other stories in Working It to find out! In the meantime, I’ll give you a little taste.
Be sure to grab your copy of Working Ittoday! Happy reading!
It’s time for another #BookBirthday! I am delighted to announce that Goodbye Moderation: Gluttonyby Sexy Little Pages is out and ready to be read. In it, there are twelve deliciously decadent short stories that stimulate the senses and tickle the palate.
My short story included in this collection is titled “Dessert.” As a child, I had a voracious sweet tooth; my cravings switched from sweet to salty when I became an adult. I have spent an inordinate amount of time watching The Great British Baking Showand marveled at the beautiful creations bakers can make from a few ingredients. Sugar sculptures, chocolate figures, and icing rosettes are feasts for both the eyes and the tongue. It is this fascination that informed this story.
Delicious, no?
Here’s the blurb for the collection:
Nothing succeeds like excess, and too much is never enough…
In a world where indulging our appetites is too often seen as a bad, selfish way to live, this anthology offers 12 delightfully wicked stories of people feasting unashamedly on pleasure.
Discover carnal pleasures that combine catering and cunnilingus, devour these delicious tales of abandon and allow yourself to be inspired by characters who long to taste all that life and lust can offer, whether their focus is food, sex or a combination of the two.
By turns sweet, sticky, sensuous and startling, you’ll find these offerings finger-lickin’ good.
Editor Zak Jane Keir has created these images for her writers. Here are mine:
As we prepare to feast for the holidays, indulge in your propensity for gluttony with this delicious collection. Happy reading, and to those who are celebrating, happy holidays!
CRASH, Ch 35 of Consequences by M. Jane Colette #audiobook #excerpt #listentothis #ConAudioTour
Welcome to Stop 35 & Chapter 35 of the Consequences AudioBook BlogTour CRASH from CONSEQUENCES (of defensive adultery) an EROTIC tragedy with a HAPPY ending by M. Jane Colette
performed by Elisa Kae
18+ ADVISORY:Consequences is intended for an adult (18+) audience. It deals with mature subject matter, and contains explicit language and sexual content. Listener and reader discretion is advised.
The tour is bringing romance readers and listeners the opportunity to listen to all 48 full, unabridged chapters of Consequences well in advance of the audiobook’s Christmas release.
Plus, there are fabulous prizes at every stop–including a raffle for $50 Amazon Gift Card–and 48 chances throughout the tour to enter to win a COMPLETE set of M. Jane Colette’s paperbacks–so read through to the end so you don’t miss out!
★★★
WHAT’S THIS BOOK ABOUT?
An affair. HEARTBREAK. Consequences. ABSOLUTION, redemption, and LOVE… in the most unexpected places–a steamy second chance romance unlike any you’ve ever experienced… featuring an ALPHA lover-confessor you haven’t DARED dream about.
Elizabeth did not plan to break up his marriage when she had an affair with her law school professor. But she did. Fifteen years later, she’s still coming to terms with the consequences of her youthful infatuation: a stepdaughter who hates her, an ex-wife who will never forgive the betrayal, a sister-in-law who’s determined to make Elizabeth her confidante. Compelled to reveal the “tragedy of her life” to a nameless lover, Elizabeth finds herself forced to reconsider her definition of love, commitment, and responsibility—a process that finally releases her from the shackles of her past mistakes and shows her the way to her own happily-ever-after.
A NOTE ABOUT STRUCTURE: The story unfolds over the course of one night, as the narrator Elizabeth relates the “tragedy of her life” to her current lover as they, to quote a reviewer “do lover things.” The story Elizabeth tells spans 15 years. The scenes between Elizabeth and her lover are pure dialogue, and interrupt the “story proper.” There is no “he said/I said” in the dialogue between Elizabeth and her lover… a challenge the narrator solved masterfully, but which may give the first-time listener pause. To increase your enjoyment of the story, an opportunity to read, as well as listen to, the chapter, is provided.
Enjoyed what you heard/read? The tour continues on Mon Nov 6 with Chapter 36 // SUFFERING FOR ART hosted byT&A BOOK BLOG.
FIRST STOP: If this blog is your first stop on the tour, you might want to head back to stop number one, hosted by Tome Tender Blog: The Photograph, or to the Tour Home Page, and start from the beginning. There are chances to win prizes at every stop!
SPEAKING OF PRIZES: For a chance to win a copy of Consequences (of defensive adultery), M. Jane Colette’s other books, and an Amazon Gift card, enter here:
PLUS: GRAND PRIZE TREASURE HUNT ENTRY, PART 35: For a chance to win a COMPLETE HARD COPY SET of M. Jane Colette’s novels, send an email to TellMe@mjanecolette.com, and:
put #ConAudioTour Day 35 in the subject heading,
ask to be added to her Rough Draft Confessions newsletter (or tell Jane you’re already on her mailing list, and it’s awesome, when’s the next love letter coming?) and,
answer the question: “There’s yet another secret revealed in this chapter. What is it?”
(The small print: Each tour stop offers you one opportunity to enter the GRAND PRIZE TREASURE HUNT DRAW, for a total of 48 entries if you complete the tour. The books that comprise the GRAND PRIZE are the novels Tell Me, Cherry Pie Cure, and Consequences, and the non-fiction collection of essays Rough Draft Confessions, including its controversially titled, available-only-in-Canada, beta reader / limited edition predecessor.)
REMEMBER: The story continues on Mon Nov 6 with Chapter 36 // SUFFERING FOR ART hosted byT&A BOOK BLOG.
★★★
M. Jane Colette writes tragedy for people who like to laugh, comedy for the melancholy, and erotica for women and men who like their fantasies real. She believes rules and hearts were made to be broken; ditto the constraints of genres.
Connect with her on Twitter / GoodReads / FaceBook / Instagramand subscribe to her newsletter, Rough Draft Confessions, to stay in the loop on her WIPs, new releases, and fab multi-media, multi-author projects. You can also email her at TellMe@mjanecolette.com.
For more information about the tour & its other hosts, visit mjanecolette.com/ConAudioTour or check out the schedule below.
Mon Sept 25 Chapter 1 THE PHOTOGRAPH hosted by TOME TENDER BOOK BLOG// Tues Sept 26 Chapter 2 PINK PANTIES hosted by KIM KNIGHT// Wed Sept 27 Chapter 3 HARD TO OPEN hosted by WICKED COOL FLIGHT// Thurs Sept 28 Chapter 4 ENTER THE ADULTERER hosted by MISHA ELLIOTT // Sat Sept 30 Chapter 5 THE WOMAN IN RED hosted by ALYSSA LINN PALMER //Sun Oct 1 Chapter 6 THE WHORE WHO WORE TURQUOISE hosted byDIRTY BAD BLOGGERS //Mon Oct 2 Chapter 7 CARELESS hosted by ELIZA DAVID // Tues Oct 3 Chapter 8 REVENGE SEX hosted byCAMERON ALLIE EROTICA// Wed Oct 4 Chapter 9 RENAMING DESTINY hosted by SO…WHATCHA READING? // Thurs Oct 5 Chapter 10 DREAMING OF SILENCE hosted by THE READING CAT// Sat Oct 7 Chapter 11 BABY OIL hosted by JENNA HOWARD// Sun Oct 8 Chapter 12 SPERM DONOR hosted by AMAZEBALLS BOOK ADDICTS// Mon Oct 9 Chapter 13 ALWAYS THE WOMAN’S FAULT co-hosted by Teri Hicks & Co’sREADING OUT LOUD + SJs BOOK BLOG // Tues Oct 10 Chapter 14 CUNT IN A BOARDROOM hosted by TL CLARK// Wed Oct 11 Chapter 15 BLACKMAIL hosted by BOOKWORM BRANDEE// Thurs Oct 12 Chapter 16 MAGIC CARPET RIDE hosted by SOUTHERN BRED & READ BOOK BLOG // Sat Oct 14 Chapter 17 CONDOMS IN A SUITCASE hosted by AMANDA SIEGRIST // Sun Oct 15 Chapter 18 COMING OUT hosted by MICHELE FOGAL // Mon Oct 16 Chapter 19 PRETTY BOY hosted by REAL TASTY PAGES// Tues Oct 17 Chapter 20 PROMISCUOUS POLYAMORY hosted by LOVES GREAT READS BLOG // Wed Oct 18 Chapter 21 EDUCATING PHILISTINES hosted by RAMPA PA GROUP // Thurs Oct 19 Chapter 22 FUCKING ARTISTS hosted by JENN’S BOOK OBSESSION// Sat Oct 21 Chapter 23 GUILT IN A TEA CUP hosted by SULTRY SIRENS // Sun Oct 22 Chapter 24 LABELS hosted by TORY RICHARDS // Mon Oct 23 Chapter 25 COERCION hosted by ROXANA NASTASE // Tues Oct 24 Chapter 26 UNGRATEFUL hosted by CASEY’S CORNER // Wed Oct 25 Chapter 27 DUPLICATE hosted by A DREAMER’S BOOK BLOG // Fri Oct 27 Chapter 28 SECRETS IN A VELVET BAG hosted by LOVE INDIE ROMANCE // Sat Oct 28 Chapter 29 BITTERSWEET COFFEE hosted by THE GENRE MINX BOOK REVIEWS // Sun Oct 29 Chapter 30 WORDS ON THE SCREEN hosted by DEELYLAH MULLIN // Mon Oct 30 Chapter 31 ADDICTIONS hosted by ANGELICA DAWSON // Wed Nov 1 Chapter 32 ENABLER hosted by 2 CHICKS & A BOOK // Thurs Nov 2 Chapter 33 FOOLISH COUGAR hosted by A RISQUÉBOOK AFFAIR BOOK BLOG // Fri Nov 3 Chapter 34 NO MORE hosted by KATE FOREST// Sun Nov 5 Chapter 35 CRASH hosted by MISS J MONROE // Mon Nov 6 Chapter 36 SUFFERING FOR ART hosted byT&A BOOK BLOG // Nov 7 Chapter 37 PLAYING CUPID hosted by MISCHA ELIOT // Wed Nov 8 Chapter 38 EMASCULATION hosted by PHOEBE ALEXANDER // Thurs Nov 9 Chapter 39 RITUAL hosted by ROMANCE NOVEL GIVEAWAYS // Sun Nov 12 Chapter 40 MUSE hosted by SIP READ LOVE // Mon Nov 13 41 CHRISTMAS DAY hosted by DIRTY GIRL ROMANCE // Tues Nov 14 Chapter 42 CAST-OFFS hosted by JOJO THE BOOKAHOLIC // Wed Nov 15 Chapter 43 VIOLATION hosted by BOOK SNIFFERS ANONYMOUS // Thurs Nov 16 Chapter 44 AGAIN WITH THE CONFESSION hosted by WOPSY WOO BOOK BLOG// Sat Nov 18 Chapter 45 FETTERED, FREE hosted by CARRIE AUSTIN REVIEWS // Sun Nov 19 Chapter 46 ABSOLUTION hosted by READS2LOVE// Mon Nov 20 Chapter 47 THRESHOLD hosted by STEPHANIE’S BOOK REPORTS//FINALE: Tues Nov 21 Chapter 48 AN UNSATISFACTORY ENDING hosted by (UN)CONVENTIONAL BOOK VIEWS // Wed Nov 22 Full Recap on mjanecolette.com + Cyber Champagne Celebration of the Tour’s Success! // Thurs Nov 30 – GRAND PRIZE WINNERS ANNOUNCED on mjanecolette.com ❤
It’s time for another #BookBirthday! I am thrilled to announce that Cwtch Press‘s Blood in the Rain 3 has just been released. There are nineteen smoldering short stories featuring vampires included in this collection, and I have to say that it’s perfect for Halloween.
I’ll trick for this Halloween treat.
I haven’t read Bram Stoker’s Dracula, nor have I seen the film Nosferatu. As a child, I read the Cirque du Freak series by Darren Shan. Like every teenager in 2008, I read the Twilightseries and was briefly enchanted with cold, pale Edward. This past year, I read Jeaniene Frost’s Night Prince series. What I’m trying to say is that I’m loosely familiar with the hallmarks of our current interpretations of vampires, and I find them both intriguing and disappointing.
See, the vampires in our imagination are strong, uncompromising, protective, almost obscenely alpha men. And honestly, for escapist literature, that’s totally OK! I, however, was drawn to Cwtch Press’s series because I wanted to explore a woman who happens to be a vampire. Typically, female vampires are treated as recently deflowered virgins: the changing from human to vampire is similar to a loss of virginity on the part of the woman, and it’s almost always perpetuated by the male vampire hero. Again, that’s totally fine. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right?
However, I was interested in a female character that is introduced to the reader as a vampire. What would motivate her? Would she be a thrall, a loner, or a den mother? How long has she been a vampire? Does she have any crazy powers? Where is she, and do her non-vampire neighbors know about her? I answered these questions in the most logical way possible: my vampire is a wartime nurse in Scotland.
Fiona Reid works the night shift at a Scottish military hospital, which provides her cover for her need to feed on human blood. While there, she has a run-in with a man recovering from Monte Cassino named Sergeant Callum Oswell. So as to not spoil the rest of the story, I’ll simply say it’s a sexy tale with a bittersweet edge.
Without further ado, here’s an excerpt of my original short story, His Angel of Death:
Sniffing, she pinpointed a man ripe to drain. He was in the middle of the ward, the stump
on his right leg seeping fluid, indicating infection. Soon, he would fall into a feverish state, and then an agonizing decay into eternal peace.
Fiona’s mouth watered.
She placed the bandages at the foot of his bunk and noticed the beads of sweat on his
face. He did not stir as she moved his head to expose his carotid artery. Dark stubble dotted his pale jaw and neck, but Fiona didn’t pay it any mind. She wiped off her lipstick and pushed the sharp teeth from her upper jaw. When they were exposed, she gently ran the tip of her tongue over each point.
God, I need this.
Leaning over him, she placed her hands on either side of his head, her fingers sinking into the lumpy pillow beneath. Her cheek brushed against his as she opened her mouth and covered the delicate skin of his neck. She licked the area, tasting the accumulation of sweat, dirt, and skin cells from four days without bathing. Her need was too great for her to be repulsed.
The man languished too deep in slumber to be aware of her. She glanced up at his face,
making sure he would not wake, then sank her teeth into him. His thin flesh gave way to the pressure of her fangs, and the blood flowed freely into her mouth and down her throat. It was thick, indicative of dehydration. She detected an acidic bite, which would be the infection; her superior immune system would clear it up immediately. Underneath the metallic taste, there was a meaty flavor to it; Fiona found it particularly
delicious. Must be Type B.
She needed to drain him quickly, for fear of discovery. As the flow slowed to a trickle,
and the man’s flesh lost most of its color, she gave a strong, final pull, and drew the last of the man’s blood. As with all her meals, she licked the puncture wounds, sealing them from prying eyes. When the body was discovered in the morning, it would be assumed that he’d succumbed to fever.
Fiona pushed herself from the bed and rearranged the body, placing the head straight and folding one heavy arm over the chest. She surveyed the neck, noticing that there hadn’t been any leaks from her meal. Keeping her condition discreet had always been paramount.
“What the hell did you do to him?”
Be sure to grab your copy of Blood in the Rain 3 here. Happy reading!
I’ve got to be honest with you. I’m not typically a morning person, but today I’m up and about with a little pep in my step. In fact, I’m currently channeling Marching Band Spongebob:
I will be the first to admit that I admire this cover on a spiritual level.
This collection is special to me for two reasons. First, it’s the first time I’ve stepped into the role of editor, which was an overall terrifying and gratifying experience. Making the decisions was a challenge, but a necessary one. I’m so grateful to each person who submitted his or her story to this endeavor. The authors who are included in this collection have written some beautiful, intimate, and unique stories. It is my wish that readers enjoy them as much as I have.
At times, putting this collection together felt a bit like being a conductor. Each story, like each instrument, complements each other while being wildly different. My role was to fit them together in the best possible way. I may be biased, but I think the finished product will be a gem in readers’ collections.
Can we stop and stare at Dudamel’s fascinating mane?
The second reason that this collection is special to me is that, quite simply, musicians are hot. Again, I might be biased due to my musical background. However, it was my experience that this turn of phrase is a 100% fact:
I know of several marriages that are directly due to both members being in my collegiate marching band.
In my experience, the sexiest musicians are those that are a bit strange. I’m talking about the band and orchestra kids, the DJ pioneers, the guys and gals in the basements noodling away at their instruments striving for better things. They’ve got some blinders on, sure, but when a gentle hand reaches out to take off those blinders, you might be in for one passionate person. In this case, you’ll find several passionate characters.
Of course, I contributed an original story for this collection. It’s a love letter to all of my brass playing folks, and I do hope it’s as fun to read as it was to write.
Here’s an excerpt of my story, Brass Trio!
The trio raised their instruments to their lips, as they’d rehearsed. They inhaled together. Angela whispered, “One, two,” tapped the third beat, and came in with her sixteenth note pickup.
The first movement, Allegro Moderato, was lively, but not difficult at first glance. The devil was in the details: Veronica focused her tongue into a tight point, landing the staccato notes precisely. Justin maintained the steady pulse with low, warm tones, while Angela’s fingers flew along the trumpet valves.
During the second movement, marked Andante, the mood shifted to a slower tempo and a softer dynamic. Veronica looked to Angela, watching her friend sway her horn in time. It was easier to get lost during slow pieces than in faster ones, at least for Veronica. She stole a glance at Justin, who was playing his trombone splendidly. At the conclusion of the movement, she shot a smile at him, which he returned.
The third movement, Rondeau, was faster in tempo than both the first and second movements. Veronica concentrated, as this movement featured a horn solo; though not technically difficult, she wanted to nail it. When they all made it to the section, she played her eighth notes with precision, much to her delight. There was a pause in the music, and they all looked at each other in that brief gulf of silence before restating the theme at a breakneck presto. Justin moved his slide rapidly, while the two women pressed their valves in time.
As the final chord of the sonata resonated through the recital center, Veronica took a deep breath and lowered her horn from her face. Angela and Justin smiled at her as they both took their own instruments down. The small audience broke out into more robust applause. The trio bowed, thanking the crowd that had attended their performance. Veronica made sure to look at the faculty members adjudicating, forcing herself to soothe her nerves as they furiously scribbled their comments and scores.
With a final bow of her head, she followed her bandmates off the stage.
You can grab Symphony Amore: Erotic Stories of Love and Music at the links below.
It’s almost here! The final author for Symphony Amore: Erotic Stories of Love and Music is Nanisi Barrett D’Arnuk.Her story is titled Her Fall from Power. This story features a conductor and dips into the BDSM world, so of course I had to include it. Known mainly as a conductor and pianist, she holds the distinction of being the first open lesbian to conduct on the stage of DAR Constitution Hall in Washington DC. She is Artistic Director Emeritus of the Lesbian and Gay Big Apple Corp of New York City.
Is this your first published story? Is this your first published story in a Sexy Little Pages anthology? My first published novel and short story were in the mid ’90s, but a fire of hate-crime origin that burned our house to the ground destroyed everything we owned. I stopped writing for about ten years. Since then, I have written five more novels and a dozen novellas. This is my first with Sexy Little Pages.
How long have you been writing erotica? How and why did you start? I’ve been writing erotica for almost 25 years. I saw a call for submissions for a book about travel-related stories. I used to travel worldwide on business and had just come back from Berlin. I took one incident that happened to me in the Berlin airport: female guard saw the bulge of my pack of cigarettes in my pocket and her wand started buzzing from the metal in my lighter. She took me into a private room to empty my pockets. That was all, but it started me fantasizing: what else could she have inspected? I turned it into a story. It was the easiest $100 I’d ever made.
What inspired you to write this story? I was a conductor in a previous life, but had never written about it. When I think of music, it’s always from that perspective. I’ve had several orchestra members approach me, but never an audience member so…(hint, hint). Like Shelby, I’m always in charge. I’ve found several other conductors who have the fantasy of giving up control. BTW: I went to a Pro Domme once, just to see what is was like (research, you know, LOL).
What were the most challenging and enjoyable aspects of writing it? Challenging: to make it interesting and not go off on a tangent
Enjoyable: the research, of course!
Does your story fit into your body of work? I write mysteries and romances, but all have some aspect of erotica in them. The only less than great review I ever got was that “the ratio of erotica to whodunit was too strong.” Where had she been? I’ll put all the erotica I can get into it (as long as it’s not gratuitous).
What is your favorite line from your story? “I hardly recognized you.” “I had clothes on.”
Being as this is a collection about music, what is your favorite song or piece of music? I prefer strong, fast music: i.e., Shostakovich rather than Mozart, Whitney before J.Lo. I absolutely love music that makes you laugh. I loved conducting Beethoven’s Fifth Inning Symphony (ask me about it sometime), The horns never forgave me.
What can we expect from you in the near future? Several romantic novellas, the last three volumes of “The Cameron Andrews Mysteries,” and the full novel version of “Her Fall from Power.” I’m also doing research on Kinbaku for “Kimiko’s Slave.”
You can read Her Fall from Power and eight other erotic short stories in the collection, Symphony Amore: Erotic Stories of Love and Music, to be released on September 19, 2017. The links are as follows:
missjmonroe.wordpress.com 