Lisa Fox Explores Her Myth of Choice & Enter to Win ...

While at RWA in New York this summer, I was fortunate enough to meet up with the lovely Ms. Lisa Fox at the Happy Ending Lounge. (You can surmise what the two of us were doing at Happy Ending.) We talked about the joy of being together in an upcoming anthology, edited by Lucy Felthouse, and titled Seducing the Myth. Who would have guessed the mythological love affair that would be started among contributors! 

Now, please welcome Lisa!

Hi everyone! I am Lisa Fox and I’m very, very excited to be here on Louisa’s blog today talking about my contribution to the ultra-sexy anthology, Seducing the Myth!

When I saw the call for submissions for the anthology, my first thought was to do a retelling of one of the more popular myths like Eros and Psyche or Aladdin for example. But I then I thought, maybe it would be better to do something more obscure, something that has not already been made into countless movies. So, I did a little research and I found an ancient Irish legend called The Voyage of Bran.

It is a myth of faith, hope, passion and adventure. A beautiful and mysterious woman tells a young prince the tale of an island in the Otherworld where everyone lives in peace and harmony. Bewitched and besotted, he gathers some of his most trusted men and sets off to find this strange, fantastical land. It seemed like the perfect story to retell for an erotic anthology and I hope that everyone enjoys reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Here’s a little taste:

The bar erupted in cheers as Logan entered and held up his hands in acknowledgement and greeting. Cries of "Captain!" followed him as he wove through the crowd, people congratulating him as he passed. Everyone seemed to be holding the evening edition of The Herald, the front page splashed with a huge picture of Logan grinning like a lunatic, coins and jewels spilling out of his hands, a golden tiara perched crookedly on his head. The fifty-point headline declared him The Prince of Emerald Key!

He made his way to the bar, ordered a beer and lifted it high. "To Reef Dancer," he announced, saluting his ship and his crew. He beamed at his men, sharing with them this moment of complete success. It had taken months of digging, of sifting and searching and probing, but they had finally done it. That very morning they'd uncovered a nearly four-hundred-year-old Spanish galleon buried not far off the coast. And there, within the main hull, they’d found their wildest dreams. Treasure beyond all imagining. They were going to be very rich men.

Logan's hand strayed to his pocket, his fingertips lightly brushing the prize within. He sucked in a sharp breath as a bolt of raw energy rocketed through him. It was like that every time he touched her. His little goddess. The greatest treasure of all. He absently stroked her outline through his jeans, very much wanting to be home right then so he could examine her more closely, maybe even understand the hold she had over him, his consuming desire to touch her, stroke her, discover all her hidden secrets.

Find Lisa on the Web:

Website: www.LisaFoxRomance.com

Blog: http://lisafoxromance.wordpress.com/

Twitter: @LisaFoxRomance

Contest: Guess what? Seducing the Myth is now available in a ... paperback! (Check it out on my Amazon page.) Whoo-hoo! And today, Friday, Sept. 30, I'm supposed to have my first shipment arrive at the house. (Happy Dance!). So in celebration, I'm giving away one copy to a guest who answers this question: What's your favorite myth that you'd like to see given an erotic twist? 

Shipping limited to within the United States.

A Future without Discrimination with Lisa Lane

Ours is a time of cultural progressivism and change, one in which increasing numbers of people are opening their minds to issues society has kept closed for far too long.  Among those issues society has long repressed is the value we place on sexual orientation.

Lust in Space
Lisa Lane

I hadn’t thought much about sexual orientation until I began writing and reading more erotic romance.  I realized early on that my writing focused on heterosexual couples, as did most erotic romances that were not specifically m/m, f/f, or ménage.  Conversely, most works focusing on homosexual or bisexual characters tended not to delve too much into their straight characters.  I suppose we all write what we know (at least most of the time) but I couldn’t help but wonder: Why don’t more works write across society’s imposed boundaries between the GLBT and heterosexual “communities?”

I was determined to defy that boundary with my Lust in Space stories.  With the help of androgynous shape-shifters, an alien race that is primarily bisexual, and an alien species comprised of hermaphrodites, the series shows differences in sexual orientation not as an issue, but as a normal part of humanoid life.  While the leading couple is heterosexual, I wanted to portray a future in which people were not defined by their sexual orientations, but by their personal characters. With that, I hope the Lust in Space books might not be defined by any particular sexual orientation, but by the character of their stories.

My most recent work in the series is “Super Nova,” which is in Lori Perkins’ most recent anthology, Three’s a Charm.  The short story follows Suxie (introduced in Lust in Space) and Jocar (introduced in Pandora’s Hope) as they go on a mission in the shape-shifting Nova’s space.  The couple, having first gotten together in Pandora’s Hope, has had its differences: Jocar was initially hired by Space-Corp to spy on Suxie and the rest of the crew; Suxie’s spirituality clashes with Jocar’s atheism; and Suxie is unsure about any future ménage activity—unsure she wants to share Jocar, her lovely blue hermaphrodite, with anyone else.  The story is about lust, love, and a couple that transcends the two, testing their relationship and fortifying their bond with a night neither will soon forget.

Lisa Lane

I think an increased number of books will mesh sexual orientations as time goes on, so that many erotica works will not be labeled “GLBT” or “hetero,” but instead follow more closely the ideal we would like to see reflected in real life: a mesh that exemplifies cohesion of different people despite their differences.

Lust in Space, Pandora’s Hope, and Three’s a Charm are available in all electronic formats through Ravenous Romance, and are also available at Amazon and other major online retailers.

You can learn more about my books and short stories at The Cerebral Writer, or visit my all-erotica blog, The New Sensuality.

Thanks for stopping by!

"Soul Search" with Amber Scott -- release week price of .99 cents

 As part of the Romancing Your Dark Side tour, we've got a special treat today ... an interview with author Amber Scott. Amber's celebrating the release of her latest book, Soul Search, with a .99 cent cover price -- good through Friday, Sept. 23.

What is your favorite scene of the book?

I really enjoyed each of the fight scenes in Fierce Dawn. Each book will have a lot of them, ala Mortal Kombat style. It’s so much fun to play with the various immortal powers. The fire of an elemental versus the emotional drain of a feeder. ..YUM.

What was the most difficult part to write?

The first chapter gave me the most difficulty and the first third of most of my books tend to be what I revise most. Sadie was a particularly enigmatic and quiet character that I had to work hard to understand and get onto the page correctly.

How do you hope readers feel when they’re done reading your book?

Exhilarated from the adventure, satisfied from the love story, and addicted to the series, wanting more, more, more!

Do you believe in ghosts? Any paranormal experiences you’d like to share? If not, any techniques you use to tap into the writing?

Yes. I’ve seen a ghost, we get ghosties in our house and my daughter has even asked an old woman in the room to stop saying “stupid.” She’s the only one who could hear or see the old woman. In fact, that experience helped me immensely in nailing down the heroine’s gifts in Soul Search.

Favorite place to vacation?

Hawaii. North Shore on Oahu in particular. There is a shrimp cart there that has the world’s best garlic drenched shrimp. Down the way is the best shaved ice ever, too. It’s like another world there and island time is delicious.

Favorite flavor of ice cream or dessert?

I’m not a big ice cream fan. Anything chocolate, I’m happy. Chocolate cake, cupcakes, brownies, truffles.

What are you working on now?

Right now I’m working on a couple projects. I’m finishing up “Dirt Nap,” a zombie short for The Evil Within horror anthology, which is shockingly fun to write. I’m revamping and re-releasing some of my formerly traditional titles for the mainstream and I’m writing Lyric’s story, Stealing Dusk, book II in ParaRealm.

Amber Scott

About Amber Scott

Amber Scott writes steamy romance in between the sheets (washing the sheets). She is a stay home mom, an avid reader, a writing coach, screenwriter, cat lover and seriously addicted to chocolate. She loves hearing from readers and fellow authors out there trying to make it.

Soul Search

Three years ago, one horrific night changed his life forever. And now the wolf soul that was invoked to save him is taking over his body, day by day.

Can he master his animal instincts in time to discover who is stealing children’s souls before the delicate balance we all depend upon is shattered?

Or will he reject the one woman who can help heal his body and his soul?

Currently priced at .99 cents on Amazon during release week, ends Sept. 23

Find Amber Scott Online

Twitter: @amberscottbooks

Facebook

http://AmberScottBooks.com

For more information on the Romancing Your Dark Side tour and contest, visit the Virtual Book Tour Cafe.

Pajama Parties at the OCC/RWA 30th Birthday Bash

Got your pajamas ready? Are you going comfortable or sexy? I know what I’m wearing! Coming Saturday, Oct. 8, is OCC/RWA’s 30^th Birthday Bash. During the day, we’ll be gaining creative inspiration from New York Times best-selling author Susan Mallery and Harlequin Executive Editor Mary-Theresa Hussey. But at night, the party truly heats up!

A variety of OCC author “hosts,” including me, are throwing Pajama Parties. That’s right! Change into something comfortable, and join others for some specialized mini-workshops.

Here’s the line-up, and a few brief descriptions:

•                Bedtime Storytelling in Pajamas (Not Just for Bedtimes) with Shannon Donnelly

Come and talk about the art of story telling -- it's not just craft and writing that sells a story, it's the story itself. We'll share ideas, problems, and stories, along with wine and chocolate. Free ebook to everyone who attends.

•                Brainstorming in Pajamas with Kara Lennox

             Think outside the box! A sure cure for the boring story is to get some brainstorming brawn behind it. Bring your skimpy plot, a character, or even the seed of an idea and see how fast the ideas fly when you get the group dynamic into the action. There will be chocolate and surprises!

•                High Concept in Pajamas with Kathleen Harrington

We'll be exploring the concept of high-concept, what it means in different genres and venues (books, movies).  Then we’ll brainstorm some high-concept ideas for romantic fiction, most especially fantasy and futuristic romances.  We’ll have drinks and a few treats, and I’ll have a prize for the most “high-concept idea” in the brainstorming session.

•                Passion in Pajamas with Louisa Bacio

Writing exercises include a naughty-toy grab bag, where guests will be invited to blindly choose one item (printed!), and then free write a scene using it. Wine, snackies and a few prizes will be awarded.

•                Pitching in Pajamas with Mary-Theresa Hussey

            Information on how to secure a “chance” for a spot to pitch to the Harlequin executive editor to come!

•                Plotting in Pajamas with Louella Nelson

             Story bogged down?  New storyline stumping you?  Get comfy and bring your notepad for this dynamic workshop that gets your story roughed out in one session. Handouts and munchies too!

•                Self-Publishing in Pajamas with Debra Holland

             Some goodies will be available and a handout with self-publishing resources.

Have you bought your tickets for the Bash yet? If not, what’s keeping you? Officially, there’s about one week left to make your reservation. The cost of the 30^th Birthday Bash, including lunch & dessert, is $40 for all RWA members and $50 for all guests (non RWA members). Pajama Parties are included in that price. The cutoff to reserve discounted rooms is Saturday, September 24. (Unofficially, you may be able to plead with our lovely president to buy a ticket for a few more days after that, but final numbers need to be turned into the hotel).

It’s all happening at the Embassy Suites in Brea

For more information, and to reserve your spot, visit http://www.occrwa.org/30thBdayBash.html

** Pajamas really are not required to attend, but I’ll be wearing mine!