Never in my life did I imagine that I would write erotic romance. Never. I had began writing at fifteen, and back then the writing consisted of fanfiction that was horrible as hell. The first "book" i ever wrote was basically just that. Then it took on a life of it's own. It's own universe evolved, grew, and said 'Hey guess what? I'm bigger then you think.'. And then it demanded to be written. 11 painstaking years later, it's still growing and being written. I finished the book once, but there's still something missing. I plan out three or four more chapters and go, well shit. Really? Okay... plan a split of the first book into two.
It was during a slight break from that that I decided to do a little surfing for some more books to read. Not that I didn't have enough already, but there was a publisher that was close to me, and I wanted to support a local business. That was when I saw the "Romanticon 2011" banner on the Ellora's Cave website. I talked with my husband and listed the benefits of going, oh yeah, and I could also pitch a story to them. There was only one problem, they're an erotica publisher, and the only sex I ever wrote was the kind you would find in a Julie Garwood novel. It was a new and exciting challenge. One I was definitely up for.
The one story I had counted on turning from a fanfiction into a serious novel had been burning a hole in my brain for the last year. It demanded to be told, only who would want a story of a vampire/werewolf/witch love triangle where all three participants would actually learn to accept each other and live happily ever after? As horrible as it may seem I thought, this is a very adult story. There will and must be sex involved, and the story line is just far enough fetched that an erotica publisher might just love it.
And the idea was born. Immediately I talked my husband into taking time off to allow me to attend the convention for one night only. Enough to allow me to go pitch my story, enjoy one party and come home the next day. All for the grand total of $275 dollars. I started planning the book, developing the story lines further from the original fiction I'd started writing, which only took me up to the end of the second act. How did I want this book to end? (Well that's not something I'm going to divulge thank you very much)
During the writing process the muse eluded me, however two Healing Springs inhabitants called out to me to tell their tale. I thought, well make this into a series of what they call "Quickies" and i should be golden. Wrote out my first short, printed it off,and handed it over to my husband. I'm surprised he didn't laugh in my face. I'm certain any editor would have. Not once did I say even the word "Erection" or "Dick" Let alone "cock" or "pussy" Those words?! WHAT?! No, I can't hardly SAY those words let alone write them in something someone's going to READ!
And then I picked up my Cheyanne McCray book, "Forbidden Magic" and reread the sex scenes in there. Well damn it. Those words all over the place. Research! That's it, gimme research! Went to Ellora's cave website, after joining a couple of message boards, and Read Allie Standifer's "Enticing Emma" A book in her club botticelli series. I freaking loved it, and the way she wrote was raw, and real and her women weren't these petite little things that had no curves, they were REAL! (come to find out as real and as awesome as the woman herself, but that is a story for another time) I read Nicole Austin's "Erotique" and a few Desiree Holt books. How i ever looked that woman in the eyes after reading those... beyond me! Then I realized. I CAN do this. I went back, edited the first short I'd ever written, and viola, an erotic writer was born.
My fingers then flew across the keyboard as i began to write "Torn", and even though my brain demanded more reading, i denied it in favor of pouring what I wanted to read into what I wrote. The date for Romanticon drew closer, and the friends I felt I was making on the message boards grew, soon into the largest group of women I've ever had wanting to spend time hanging out with me before, and I felt freaking awesome. The book wouldn't be finished, but "not to worry" many of the wonderful established authors told me. I did not have it close to finished when i went and pitched my book, but that did not stop the editor from asking for the manuscript when it was done.
I may not be published, YET, but soon I will be, and then I've got a feeling the (mis) adventure really begins!
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