Music to be Paddled by…

I’m a music lover.  Pop, classical, rock—anything and just about everything, really.  Certain pieces pick me up in the morning; there are things I only listen to when I’m angry or sad; I have a whole playlist devoted to… well, play

The Soundtrack of My Life is comprised of a hundred different songs whose notes have drifted into my mind at particular moments, accompaniments to events, triumphs and tragedies alike.

Music is also a near constant companion when I’m writing.  Which is not to say I write while listening to music—rather, that nearly every story I’ve written has a song of its own—a particular piece of music that evokes the tone I’m trying to capture, or that puts me in the headspace that I want to be in as a particular character.  Sometimes, as happened with my story in Spank!, the music is the inspiration itself.

Like it or Not is a Madonna song (any disparaging comments about Madge will be met with swift and exacting punishment!) that closes out the Confessions on a Dance Floor album.  It’s got a dirty-sexy baseline and some religious imagery that made my porn writing synapses light up like Christmas.  Now, where I’ve gone with my dirty imaginings is far removed from where the song itself goes, and the resulting story, “What Jackie Gives Me” really has nothing to do with a strong woman owning her power and sexuality…then again, maybe it does

Here’s an excerpt:

“Would you like this, my sweet?” He asks, holding it out to me, his voice a low whisper I don’t recognize. I nod silently, unsure of his mood, and offer a tentative smile.

“Go ahead.” He says, and I lean forward, then hesitate, my eyes flickering from the apple to Jackie.

“Bite it.” He says, and my teeth part its flesh, and it’s firm and delicious and sweet. I try to stifle the moan that wells up inside me, but I can’t, and it escapes into the space between us. My eyes fly to Jackie’s, but they are unfathomably dark, and a flush stains his alabaster cheeks. Out of the corner of my eye I spy a droplet of juice fall from the apple to Jackie’s palm. It slides down to his wrist and I impulsively lean in and lick up the drop with my tongue.

Jackie makes a choking sound and drops the apple as though it burns. His chest is heaving as though he’s out of breath and I freeze under his icy glare. I don’t know what I’ve done wrong. I don’t know why he’s so angry. I  look down and sit very still. After a moment I hear movement, but I still don’t look up; I don’t want to do anything to make him angrier.

“Here.” Jackie says, and I have to look at him then. He’s holding a glass of wine out to me. I don’t want to take it. Sometimes Jackie lets me have wine, but then he’s always happy and we laugh together like we’re sharing a secret. I don’t want the wine now, not when he’s so mad. I worry my lip between my teeth.

“Take it.” He says, thrusting the glass toward me. I reach up with trembling hands, but I’m so nervous that it falls from my fingers. A cascade of deep red soaks the front of my dress, my beautiful white sundress with ruffles and lace.

“You’ve ruined it!” Jackie roars, and my lips start to tremble, tears prickle at the corners of my eyes.

Then Jackie’s hands are on me, pushing me down, so quickly I can’t voice a protest. I’m on my back on the blanket and Jackie is astride me, tearing at the dress with a fury.

“Wanton!” He spits. “Temptress -”  

“Nooooo…” I moan, my head shaking back and forth in denial.

“ – with your greedy mouth and sinful tongue.” His eyes are alight with madness, and his body is hard where it’s pressed against me. The seams of my dress give way beneath his hands, and in a moment I am naked beneath him. He staggers to his feet, my ruined dress in his hand, and looks down at me contemptuously as I try to cover myself.

“Look how you try to hide yourself from me!” Jackie shouts, and I am miserable, crying in earnest because I don’t know what to do.

“You are no sweet, innocent little thing,” he says, throwing the tattered dress away from him, “you are a wicked, wicked girl.” Jackie falls to his knees, and before I can guess his intent, his hand is wrapped around my ankle and he’s pulling me toward him.

“You need to be punished.” He says, and his eyes are bright like the Reverend Carmichael’s are when he talks about God and the Devil. I try to scramble backwards; try to pull my leg from his grasp, but Jackie is strong, and no matter how much I struggle, he keeps on pulling me closer…

What do I love about spanking?  Everything.  ’Nuff said.

Be sure to check out the rest of the blog tour!

9/1       D. L. King

9/2       Cervo Logical Lust

9/3       Sommer Marsden

9/4       Anna Black

9/5       Jean Roberta

9/6       Tara S. Nichols

9/7       Maggie Morton Logical Lust

9/8       Kathleen Bradean

9/9       Lee Ash Logical Lust

9/10     Lisabet Sarai

9/11     Evan Mora Logical Lust

9/12     Allison Wonderland

9/13     Sean Meriwether Logical Lust

9/14     Roxy Katt

9/15     Donna George Storey

9/16     Beth Wylde

9/17     Sacchi Green Logical Lust

9/18     A.D.R. Forte

9/19     J. Z. Sharpe Logical Lust

9/20     Jessica Lennox

9/21     Cassandra Park

On Spanking

by Lee Ash

Prior to writing “Slippering” I read an article by a lady who claimed she had a problem with spanking.  Every time she told her female friends that she liked to be spanked, they responded in outrage. They repeatedly told her she was wrong for allowing a man to abuse her in such a barbaric fashion.  They suggested she had issues and should have her head examined.

It was an engaging article, reflecting on the diversity of approaches to power-relationships in a modern world of feminist ideologies entrenched within a patriarchal hegemony.

OK.  I’m probably not making it sound like much of an engaging article.  But I did enjoy it.

Long story short: I could quickly see a solution to the lady’s problem.  It seemed plainly obvious to me. Stop talking about your spanking pleasures with no-nothing dimwits.

I’m a man. I enjoy spanking. This does not mean I go round telling anyone who will listen, “I enjoy spanking.”  I can’t see the congregation at the local church being impressed.

I seldom sit down and discuss my sexual proclivities with friends.  Unless it’s someone who is likely to participate in those proclivities.  Why would any of my friends need to know I enjoy spanking?  Unless it was a female friend and I thought we could both enjoy the mutual benefits of the experience.

Spanking gets a lot of bad press.  Some of the bad press is deserved.  The non-consensual abuse of authority is abhorrent and should not be tolerated.  But, as an element of sex play, spanking is hard to beat.

In a sexual context spanking is not about abuse.  Admittedly, it’s a mild form of consensual S&M but the emphasis here is on two words: mild and consensual.  Done properly a good session of spanking can work as a perfect element of foreplay.  A flat hand striking bare buttocks represents a level of intimacy that is bold.  It’s the same skin-on-skin contact we savour through holding hands, caressing and kissing.  And yet, it’s more than that.  Spanking suggests intimacy in that one partner is trusting the other not to go beyond tolerable levels.  Done ineptly a poor spanking can be uncomfortable and unarousing.  Done well, a partner’s buttocks can be warmed for the evening: a lingering reminder of shared intimacy and sexual excitement.  An appetiser that promises a full and satisfying banquet before the end of the encounter.

As an enthusiast, I have to admit that I wholeheartedly advocate spanking.  It’s enough of a taboo to be shocking to those outside the world of flat hands on bare buttocks, and it’s sufficiently pleasurable to raise the stakes for the fullest and most satisfying liaisons.  However, I don’t go around advocating spanking to those who don’t share my enthusiasm.  The closest I come to urging people to try spanking is through blogs like this one.  And through characters in stories like “Slippering.”

This is a small taster from my short story “Slippering” in D L King’s anthology: Spank!.  I hope you enjoy it.

Lee Ash

“Yes, darling,” she repeated.

Jake turned to Duncan. “For modesty’s sake, I could slipper her like this but I always think that the fabric of her knickers might cushion some of the blow.”

Not knowing what to say, Duncan shrugged and tried to look as though he sympathised with Jake’s dilemma.

“Of course,” Jake went on. “I could always pull the panties tighter…”  He hooked his finger beneath the underwear and pulled the back panel upwards.  The crotch of her knickers pressed firmly against the mound of Veronica’s sex.  Her arse was split into twin orbs by the brilliant white fabric of her knickers.

With his attention rapt, Duncan could not help himself from staring at the gusset of her panties.  Wiry tendrils of dark brown hair, as luscious and lustrous as those at her head, peered from the sides of the elastic but it was the centre of the panties were his gaze lingered.  The shape of her labia was clearly visible through the taut fabric and although he had no way of knowing for sure, he felt sure she was aroused.

“This makes her arse cheeks free for me to slipper them,” Jake explained, tugging the underwear firmly upwards.  “It also helps Veronica to retain a little of the modesty that she’s so desperate to keep hold of.”  He rolled his fingers against the exposed buttock, running the tips close to the crease of her sex.  “But after her behaviour today, I don’t think I should trouble myself with her modesty.  I think she should suffer a little humiliation, as well as the slippering.”

Veronica gasped as Jake tugged the panties down.

Spank! Blog Tour Dates:

9/1      D. L. King

9/2      Cervo                         Logical Lust

9/3     Sommer Marsden

9/4      Anna Black

9/5     Jean Roberta

9/6      Tara S. Nichols

9/7      Maggie Morton          Logical Lust

9/8      Kathleen Bradean

9/9      Lee Ash                      Logical Lust

9/10     Lisabet Sarai

9/11     Evan Mora               Logical Lust

9/12     Allison Wonderland

9/13     Sean Meriwether     Logical Lust

9/14     Roxy Katt

9/15     Donna George Storey

9/16     Beth Wylde

9/17     Sacchi Green            Logical Lust

9/18     A.D.R. Forte

9/19     J. Z. Sharpe              Logical Lust

9/20     Jessica Lennox

9/21     Cassandra Park

Maggie Morton on the Spank! Blog Tour

This is actually one of my favorite stories…more than a spankophile, I am a bibliophile (I’m currently in the middle of at least 20 books). I guess you could call me a book fetishist, so combining sex and reading was a delight for me (even if the erotic book Jenna, the character, reads from is not exactly expertly written.  But sometimes the worst written erotica is also the hottest). Because of my love of reading, I also love to write, and because of that, this story came into existence.

Spank! comes out on Wednesday, September 15th. Below is an excerpt from my story, “A Well-Red Bottom.”

The book that was to blame for everything had a very suggestive cover. But, then, it was a very suggestive book. On its front, a bare-bottomed woman lay over a man’s lap. His hand was raised, and a look of shock was on her face. Above that intriguing image were the words, “Bare Bottoms and Raised Hands: Tales For the Spanking Enthusiast.”

Jenna didn’t know if she could be considered a spanking enthusiast, exactly, but she’d gotten bored with the type of sex you could find in more typical books, romance novels and the like. She was sick of women being “ravished” with “throbbing members” by “rugged” men. She wanted women who were convinced with mere threats to bow before their masters. No “masters” had been in her life up until then, only a milquetoast boyfriend who had always worn his socks during sex and always made annoying grunting noises while he was inside her. She’d tried to work a little excitement into their sex life, but it had been hopeless, and now she didn’t know if she’d ever get laid again. Her first foray into having a sex life had been so disappointing, she didn’t even know if she wanted to get laid again. Were all men that dull and unimaginative? She certainly hoped not. The men in the books she’d taken to reading were not boring in the least. When she read their lovely threats, she become wet, and when they followed through on them, her arousal only grew.

It was close to closing when her boss entered the room and, quick as she could, she shoved the spanking book beneath some papers by the register. She couldn’t have him knowing that not only did she read while it was slow in the bookstore, but that more often than not, what she read contained words like “cock” and “pain slut” and “submissive”.

The book hidden from view, Jenna smiled at Mr. Franks, hoping that a flush wasn’t rising to her face, although she almost certainly was starting to blush. It didn’t help that she was very attracted to him. Not only did she have an age-difference fetish, she had a boss fetish as well, and as if that weren’t enough, Mr. Franks always wore a three-piece suit, which would have made her weak in the knees on principle. She doubted he felt the same way about her, and she didn’t even know his first name–he was still “Mr. Franks” to her, even though she’d worked for him well over a month. She didn’t even know if he thought about anyone sexually. He just seemed too proper and professional for things of that nature. But his propriety, of course, only added to his appeal.

She watched as Mr. Franks approached. “Jenna, this may be a bookstore, but your job here does not include reading the merchandise.” He was pissed, and now she definitely was blushing. “Close up, and then meet me in my office.”

Follow along with the Spank! Blog Tour:

9/1       D. L. King

9/2       Cervo                           Logical Lust

9/3       Sommer Marsden

9/4       Anna Black

9/5       Jean Roberta

9/6       Tara S. Nichols

9/7       Maggie Morton            Logical Lust

9/8       Kathleen Bradean

9/9       Lee Ash                  Logical Lust

9/10     Lisabet Sarai

9/11     Evan Mora               Logical Lust

9/12     Allison Wonderland

9/13     Sean Meriwether            Logical Lust

9/14     Roxy Katt

9/15     Donna George Storey

9/16     Beth Wylde

9/17    Sacchi Green             Logical Lust

9/18     A.D.R. Forte

9/19     J. Z. Sharpe             Logical Lust

9/20     Jessica Lennox

9/21     Cassandra Park

~~Get your copy of Spank! today~~

The Cougar Book – interview with Jolene Hui

This just in! Authors can be very busy working on various projects, but Jolene Hui has managed to take time and talk about her story, “Shelly’s Mom” and The Cougar Book.

What made you decide to submit your work for inclusion in The Cougar Book?

I’d worked with Jolie du Pre before and I know she turns out a quality product and is passionate about her work. I knew if I was accepted into the anthology I would be housed in between some very talented writers. Plus, I think it’s very exciting that it’s FINALLY socially acceptable for older women to have sex with younger men.

Tell us about your story. Give us a little teaser.

My story, “Shelly’s Mom,” is based on my mother who has been known to get a little cougar action. She has also been known to do a little partying with her children. Being a young mother, it kind of made sense for her. In the story, Helen is a mother who meets a hot surfer friend of her daughter and hits it off with him (and hits it with him, of course).

Here’s a very small taste:

I closed the door and silently led him to the couch. His hands slid behind my back. His lips went to my neck. His warmth rubbed off on me through his soft, thin, blue t-shirt. I could feel his muscles rubbing against my breasts. I tightened my arms around his shoulders and returned the kiss to his neck.

“Is anyone here?” he whispered.

“Just you and me,” I answered.

We slid to the couch, kissing furiously. I’d been thinking about him since our encounter that night in the garage. He seemed like he’d been thinking about it too.

I was glad I had a reclusive urge and not left my curtains open this morning. Probably better that I didn’t broadcast my sex just yet.

I wanted to feel exactly what he was packing. I slid my hand to his crotch and felt the stiff mass. He let out a little moan and pulled away from kissing me.

“Well you don’t mess around, do you?” he said with a pleased look on his face.

Could you see yourself being a cougar?

Although I find myself attracted to men of any age – I tend to like to partner up with men closer to my age. However, I should tell myself, “Never say never!” I’m not sure what I’m going to want in ten years. I’m still too young to be considered one, and I don’t have a crystal ball, unfortunately.

Does your writing turn you on?

This is a silly question. Of course it does! I love writing erotic fiction because it turns me, and hopefully others, on – that’s the point, right?

Your birthday has been declared a national holiday. How do you want people to celebrate?

I want people to eat their favorite meals and have sex with their lover(s). Great food and great sex are essential to a happy and satisfying life.

You’re stranded on a desert island and you can only have one book, one album/CD, and one person with you—what would they be?

The Giver by Lois Lowry, Steely Dan’s Gaucho, and my partner in life – I’d be way too lonely without him. In fact, I could do without the others as long as he’s with me.

What’s your vice?

Anything with sugar. My favorite thing, though, is Sprinkles Cupcakes. They kill me.

Where can we find you on the Web? Do you have a website or blog(s)? Any social networks?

I have a website and a blog. My website needs to be updated so you might not want to go there. The blog is a good place to go since I typically report news there. I’m hoping to revamp it when I have some time over the summer.

http://jolenehui.blogspot.com/

The Cougar Book – interview with Keeb Knight

All this month on the Logical-Lust blog we will have interviews from the authors of The Cougar Book, edited by Jolie du Pre. Today is Keeb Knight, author of “Illicit Intentions.”


Keeb Knight was born in London. He grew up in the cities of Detroit and Philadelphia. Currently living in Philadelphia, he enjoys writing erotic, multicultural, urban, and romantic suspense stories. His story “Mandatory Overtime” was featured in Zane’s New York Times Bestseller Caramel Flava: The Eroticanoir.com Anthology. His most recent story “The Gerswins” was published in SWING! an erotica anthology published by Logical-Lust Publications, edited by Jolie Du Pré. He’s currently working on a romantic suspense and an urban erotica novel.

What made you decide to submit your work for inclusion in The Cougar Book?

I was already working on a cougar story as a side project knowing that this was a subject growing in popularity then an announcement came from Jolie and Logical-Lust Publications that they were doing The Cougar Book. So my casual side project then turned into a project with a deadline. I figured I’d submit my story while it was still fresh and had steam.

Tell us about your story. Give us a little teaser.

My story titled “Illicit Intentions” is about a beautiful, youthful-looking, future mother-in-law who is a professional woman and has a high sexual vibe for life. And some how, some way (with out giving too much away) her future son-in-law gets trapped up in her vibe.

Here’s an excerpt:

In true feline fashion, she snuck up elegantly and quietly. “Can I help you find something a bit more your size, sir?”

He was a bit startled, but the alluring voice sounded familiar to him. “Uh, yeah,” he said as he slowly took his attention away from a sheer, periwinkle teddy to that of the woman whose beauty was as youthful, natural, and fresh as he’s ever seen. He was almost a loss for words. Whoa! he thought. “Oh, hi, Ms. Thomas,” he said looking at her as though he could fuck her where she stood.

Dr. Lauren Xhang-Thomas was a psychiatrist. She specialized in sexual and behavioral therapy. She kept her married name after her divorce, but she let most people call her “Ms. Thomas.” She was of mixed decent: part Chinese, part African-American. Her light-sepia skin was like an exotic coffee mixed with just the perfect amount of cream. She had the most alluring honey-brown eyes; her long, raven hair framed her flawless oval face. She was a natural beauty.

“You know if you keep staring at me like that, young man, you might just go blind.”

“Well, you’re a very stunning woman, Ms. Thomas.”

“That’s very flattering, Kyle. I may have to marry you myself if you keep that up.”

“I’m just surprised to see you.”

“I can say the same. So, are you trying to find something for yourself or for my daughter?”

“Funny, Ms. Thomas.”

“Just asking. And you do know you won’t be calling me Ms. Thomas for much longer.”

“Uh, yeah. I guess you’re right. That’s going to take a little getting used to.”

“Don’t you worry your handsome face about that, dear. I’ll help you get more comfortable with calling me mother, mom, or mommy.”

“Mommy would be a bit much don’t you think?

“No. It just depends on what context is agreeable between the two of us. You’ll come to find I’m a very open-minded woman, Kyle.”

Could you succumb to a cougar?

Yes, I could. Have I ever? No, I haven’t. I’ve dated women who weren’t far older than me, but I’ve come across women about 10 years my senior who have passed through the sexual fantasy mill of my mind to the point where I could see myself with them.

Does your writing turn you on?

Absolutely! During and after I write a story I walk away from it briefly and become the reader (not the writer) and I have to be turned on by it. After all, the goal is to turn on my readers so it only makes sense that I too get turned on by what I write.

The Cougar Book release is in print and ebook formats. With ebook readers becoming more and more popular, what are your views on ebooks and their effect on the publishing industry?

I think ebooks are great. It gives readers another option of a format, portability, and lower cost. And it’s basically the same the publisher as well. Giving their readers other format option(s) and lower production costs. There’s always going to be a gray area though for publishers depending on how big or small they are as an entity in this competitive market. At the end of the day they have to find the balance of what works to their benefit. I’ll say this. Over the last few years there has definitely been a shift heading in the direction of people buying more ebook formats. Portable ebook readers are still on the expensive side, but now with the fact that people can read ebooks via some of the more popular mobile phones that alone is huge because people won’t have to carry around an extra gadget just to read their ebook. And this may be a niche market of people who were (or are) on the fence about buying an ebook reader. When consumers have a cell phone that can do the same function publishers now have the opportunity for another market of potential ebook buyers.

What do you find difficult about writing? What comes easy for you?

Starting a story is the difficult part for me. I don’t know about other writers but I have to know what the title of my story is before I write it. That being said, even at the point of have a working title I still have a rough start beginning a story. I battle with the fact that I have to think about hooking the reader from the beginning. Finding the best hook can be chore, but once you have it – the first few paragraphs or pages, then rest of the story is just a matter of finding what direction your characters are headed.

The part I find easy about writing is writing the dialogue in my stories. And I find it moves the story along more fluidly if done right. I like to put my characters in interacting situations as often as possible. Keeping the narration aspect down to a minimum. It gives the feel of realism in the fictional world I create.

What are you working on now? Do you have a current release or a new release coming soon?

Right now I’m currently working on a romantic suspense novel. A project I’ve been working on and off for a while now. I hope to complete by or before summer.

Where can we find you on the Web? Do you have a website or blog(s)? Any social networks?

I can be found on www.myspace.com/keebknight .

COUGAR ON THE PROWL! Get your copy of THE COUGAR BOOK now!

The Cougar Book – interview with Rachel Kramer Bussel

All this month on the Logical-Lust blog we will have interviews from the authors of The Cougar Book, edited by Jolie du Pre. Today is Rachel Kramer Bussel, author of “What Pretty Girls Do.”

Rachel Kramer Bussel is an author, editor, and blogger. She’s Senior Editor at Penthouse Variations, has edited over 30 anthologies, including Peep Show, Bottoms Up, Spanked, Tasting Him, Tasting Her, and The Mile High Club, and hosts New York’s popular monthly In The Flesh Reading Series. She teaches erotic writing workshops and does readings nationwide.

What made you decide to submit your work for inclusion in The Cougar Book?

I had this story “What Pretty Girls Do” kicking around for a while and kept trying to find the right home for it. Let that be a lesson–never give up! It got rejected I think three times before being accepted for this book. It was inspired by a Kirsty MacColl song, “What Do Pretty Girls Do?”

Tell us about your story. Give us a little teaser.

As I said above, it’s inspired by the Kirsty MacColl song, which I encourage you to listen to, and made me think about what a woman who’d always been known for her looks would do once they started to go. Here’s the first two paragraphs:

Sheena looked in the mirror, peering at the fine lines that had crept into her skin over the years, and in the last month or two, it seemed, suddenly taken up permanent residence. She smoothed her cheeks, the ones that used to glow, smooth and sparkling as peaches. She used to thrill to the compliments that were passed her way, gracing every such stranger with a smile that would make his day, perhaps even his week. Being a model, she’d gotten used to the looks, the covert glances, the whispers, the constant, eternal adoration. She’d worshipped herself too, always had, ever since she was a little girl, twirling by every mirror she passed, learning early on to toss her hair back and bat her eyelashes at every man or woman she came across. Those skills had come in handy, and she’d certainly bedded some of the best. But she’d never expected to be washed up at 40. She’d had surgery to make sure of that. Sheena had never even really thought about what life might be like once she stopped being perfect.

The thing of it was, it was only up close that one would notice any crack in her armor, any slight imperfection to mar her otherwise magnificent body. She’d made sure of that, visiting the gym so regularly she didn’t even need to flash her card, simply gave a divine nod before heading off into the back to sweat and sweat and dream about being able to lie back and have handsome waiters bring her elegant drinks while she floated in the pool. If she even had a pool. She’d been reduced to living in a small cottage, just far enough away from the major Hollywood players, the ones who’d undoubtedly made it, no questions asked, to make visiting her not-so-desirable. And today was her birthday. Her 40th–although officially, on the record and in the press, she was only 35–and intended to remain so for some time. She’d been lying about her age for so long that even she had to double check, and realizing that the big four oh was approaching had shocked her to her core. She remembered starting out, a bright, young, eager wisp of a girl, and that was often how she still felt.

Could you see yourself being a cougar?

Maybe when I’m older, though probably not, since I tend to like younger men, but I have been with a few younger guys who were a lot of fun.

Does your writing turn you on?

Once in a while it does. The more personal stories, the ones inspired by a lover or a crush, often move me. Others turn me on more mentally than physically. It’s often in rereading my work, whether live at my reading series, In The Flesh, or to myself, that the power of it truly hits me. I sometimes go into a little writing trance and forget exactly what I’m writing, perhaps as a way to protect myself from fearing publishing truly filthy thoughts or feelings.

The Cougar Book release is in print and ebook formats. With ebook readers becoming more and more popular, what are your views on ebooks and their effect on the publishing industry?

I’m curious to see what happens with ebooks. I don’t have an e-reader and am pretty removed from the whole genre, plus I love physical books and cart at least 3, usually more like 5 or 6, around with me all the time, so I don’t think I will ever stop reading print books.

What do you find difficult about writing? What comes easy for you?

On most days, I’d say “everything” to the first question. I love writing but also hate it sometimes when the ideas in my head don’t work out the same beautiful way on paper.

Your birthday has been declared a national holiday. How do you want people to celebrate?

Naked with cupcakes!

You’re stranded on a desert island and you can only have one book, one album/CD, and one person with you—what would they be?

Oh wow, what a question! I’d say The Glass Castle, The Reputation by The Reputation and…well, I probably can’t steal my friend’s baby or my baby cousin, so I will say my boyfriend.

What are you working on now? Do you have a current release or a new release coming soon?

I have, crazily enough, 10 books coming out this year – 8 anthologies, and my first novel (Everything But…, Harlequin Spice) and my first nonfiction book (The Art of the Erotic Love Letter, Cleis Press). Plus I run a monthly reading series in New York, In The Flesh, and am doing a mini West Coast and Minneapolis book tour for Best Sex Writing 2010, my annual nonfiction anthology. So there’s that, plus I have a full-time job at Penthouse Variations so I keep plenty busy.

Where can we find you on the Web? Do you have a website or blog(s)? Any social networks?

I’m all over the Internet: my website is www.rachelkramerbussel.com, and my blog is http://lustylady.blogspot.com. I’m @raquelita on Twitter and have a Facebook fan page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rachel-Kramer-Bussel/122880675514?ref=search&sid=572008831.53549185..1

Please come out for the free cupcakes and hot stories every month at In The Flesh: http://www.inthefleshreadingseries.com

THE COUGAR BOOK IS AVAILABLE NOW!

The Cougar Book – interview with D. L. King

All this month on the Logical-Lust blog we will have interviews from the authors of The Cougar Book, edited by Jolie du Pre. Today is D. L. King, author of “A Great Commute.”

D. L. King publishes and edits the review site, Erotica Revealed.  The editor of two, soon to be three, anthologies, find her in Best Women’s Erotica, Mammoth Book of Best New Erotica, Best Lesbian Erotica and many others. She is the author of two novels. Find her at dlkingerotica.com.

Could you see yourself being a cougar?

Could I see myself being a cougar?  Honey, I AM a cougar!  I particularly like sweet, young computer boys.  I’ve had, um, used, um, worked with two of them.  After the HTML is put to bed—well, let’s just say they can be quite flexible, at times, and rock-solid when you need them to be.

Tell us about your story.  Give us a little teaser.

I live in New York and commute to and from work every day via subway.  That’s something with which I’m really familiar; all New Yorkers are.

Most of my best ideas come to me when my mind is in a relaxed state, like the period just before full wakefulness in the morning.  I usually doze on the train to work (because I’m not a morning person and want to get in that last hour of sleep…) and I often get ideas for stories.  The germ of an idea for this story came from a commute.  I was thinking about all the people I tended to see every day, and my mind naturally drifted to how nice it would be to see some hunky boy get on the train.  I just took it from there.

Here’s a short excerpt:

A Great Commute

“Ma’am is fine, Justin.  You can call me Ma’am if it makes you more comfortable.  Shall we?” I said.  I got up and walked out the door, turned right, and continued around the corner, sure Justin was following me.  I had a small boutique hotel in mind.  It wasn’t far, and I had a corporate account.  I stayed there on occasion, when I worked late, rather than make the commute home.

As we got closer to the hotel, I turned to see Justin following three steps behind me.  I took his hand, drawing him parallel, and put my arm around his waist.

“Good morning, Ms. Shepherd, nice to see you back with us,” the doorman said as we entered.  I could feel Justin’s intake of breath when he saw the lobby.

“Don’t worry, you’ll be all right.  I’ll just be a minute,” I said, leaving him to try to look without gawking.

We had the elevator to ourselves, and as soon as the doors closed, Justin closed in for a kiss.  And what a lovely, sweet kiss it was.  His tongue gently prodded my lips open and so sweetly explored my mouth as a hand tentatively slid its way up my body to my breast.  I allowed him to continue in this manner until we reached our floor.  As the doors opened, I wrapped my fingers around the front of his belt, inserting them between the leather and the denim, and then gently pulled him after me down the hall.  I held him like this while I opened the door, and then pushed him into the room, still holding onto his belt.

Once inside, I closed and locked the door behind us.  Pulling him along behind me, I opened the bathroom and looked inside—’cause that’s what you do—then continued on into the room.  All this time, Justin hadn’t made a sound.  I backed him up to the king-sized bed and forced him into a seated position.  Removing my fingers from his belt, I stroked his crotch and felt the growing bulge in his pants.  Giving it a squeeze, I buried my face in his neck and inhaled.

“Mmm, you smell nice.  You must have headed for the train fresh out of the shower.”

“Yes Ma’am,” he said, shivering as I licked his jaw.

“Be a good boy, and get out of those clothes while I call my office.”

(If you want more, you’ll have to buy the book!)

Does your writing turn you on?

Absolutely!  I was once told that if what I wrote turned me on, it would, most-likely, turn others on too.  I’d like to take that a little farther and say that I don’t believe I can hope to arouse any reader if what I’ve written doesn’t get me at least a little bit hot.

The Cougar Book release is in print and ebook formats.  With ebook readers becoming more and more popular, what are your views on ebooks and their effect on the publishing industry?

I love ebooks.  They’re convenient and a great source of instant gratification.  I’ve read tons of them on my Palm in the Mobipocket format and, now that I have an iPhone, I read them in ePub on Stanza.  And I haven’t just read a bunch of dirty books on electronic devices. I’ve read mainstream best sellers as well because of that whole instant gratification thing.

I like instant gratification.  You could probably tell that about me by reading a few of my stories.  Yep, I’m definitely the “Whirr, birr, thank you Sir” kind of gal.

But that doesn’t mean I think ebooks will be replacing print books.  I don’t believe that will happen, at least not in my lifetime.  I love books in print!  I like holding them and touching them and turning their pages.  I also like signing them for readers.  I’m glad The Cougar Book is being released in both print and e formats—something for everyone!

What do you find difficult about writing?  What comes easy for you?

Sometimes I find getting the initial idea for a story the most difficult thing.  As I mentioned earlier, sometimes ideas just come to me when I’m most relaxed.  Perhaps that’s the problem: I don’t get a chance to relax that often.

I’m also a big procrastinator and inherently lazy.  Yes, yes, it’s true, I am.  So most often I’d say the difficult part about writing is sitting down and actually getting started.

As far as easy, once I get started, if the story is engaging, things usually tick right along.  I write erotica exclusively so interestingly, perhaps, I often find the sex scenes the most difficult.  I can get really bogged down in the sex.  I’ll write like gangbusters, right up to the sex, and then take a break!  (That’s a little secret.  Don’t tell anyone, OK?)

What are you working on now?  Do you have a current release, or a new release, coming soon?

I’m in the middle of editing a spanking anthology for Logical Lust Publications as we speak!  It’s called, oddly enough, Spank! and I’m excited about it!  I’ve been reading some dynamite stories.  If you’re the least little bit into spanking, I think you’ll find it irresistible.

My latest anthology, The Sweetest Kiss: Ravishing Vampire Erotica, from Cleis Press, was released this past October 1.  It’s been getting killer press and reviews, which I guess is appropriate for an erotic vampire anthology!

I’m writing stories that will, hopefully, turn up in various places, and I’m thinking about possibly writing another Melinoe book.

Where can we find you on the Web?  Do you have a website or blog(s)?  Any social networks?

Oh, boy, I’m all over the place!  I have a website that, among other things, lists my upcoming appearances and latest reviews.  Check it out at http://www.dlkingerotica.com.  I have a blog that I could keep up more regularly… Find it at http://www.dlkingerotica.blogspot.com.  I can be found on Facebook (D L King), Twitter (d_l_king) and FetLife (D_L_King).  Come by and say hi.

The Cougar Book – interview with Adriana Kraft

All this month on the Logical-Lust blog we will have interviews from the authors of The Cougar Book, edited by Jolie du Pre. Today is Adriana Kraft, auhor of “A Taste of Ginger.”

What made you decide to submit your work for inclusion in The Cougar Book?

First off, we’re huge admirers of its editor, Jolie du Pre, and thrilled to be included in one of her anthologies. We’re a married couple writing erotic romance together under the pen name Adriana Kraft. This theme seemed like a natural for us because many of our heroines are older women and we love to fulfil their fantasies. We like having our characters go against the grain some, to do the unexpected. Sometimes, as with the Cougar in this story, they are most surprised by a turn of events that seemed so unimaginable, yet turns out to be incredibly fun and explosive.

Tell us about your story. Give us a little teaser.

Our short story, “A Taste of Ginger,” offers an incredible night of decadence and sensuality for our newly divorced mid-life heroine. Against her better judgment she’s let a co-worker talk her into an evening at a swing club. When Annette tells her a handsome young man at the bar is checking her out she wants to run the other way—but Annette abandons her to pursue her own interests, and Ginger must make her own choice for the night of a lifetime!

Excerpt:

Nathan Samson was indeed easy on the eyes—dark hair, Roman nose, solid chin, and penetrating brown eyes. How could he be so young? How young was he? Way too young. Annette had led a mid-thirties guy out of here just minutes ago. But that was Annette. Ginger swallowed. And this was her. And there was no misreading the lust growing in those brown eyes that didn’t hide their appreciation for a particular full body—hers.
“Where are your girlfriends?” Ginger asked. “I thought they’d have you in one the bedrooms by now.”
He chuckled. “Why would you think that?”
“They were draped all over you. Isn’t that every guy’s fantasy—two girls satisfying his every whim?”
“Whoa, lady. Draw your talons back in.” Nathan gave her a brilliant smile. “I do like a woman who isn’t afraid to use her fingernails but…”
Ginger scowled taking in his meaning.
“Besides. That really depends on the women.”
“Huh?”
“Being with two women can be fantastic, but they have to be the right two women.”
“Oh.” She glared at her wine. She’d gotten them into this discussion. How could she get them on safer ground? “How old are you?” She’d blurted out the question without warning—herself, or him.
“I’m twenty-five.” He pursed his lips. “Not that it matters, but how old are you?”
“Fifty-five,” she squeaked. “God, I am old enough to be your mother.”
His fingers slid along the top of a bare thigh. She swallowed hard but couldn’t find the energy to pull away.
He leaned over close to whisper in her ear. “Ginger, when I look at you I don’t see my mother.”

[Ladies]Could you see yourself being a cougar?

For sure! Part of what inspired us to write this story was the delicious fantasy of having an evening with a young virile hunk so totally focused on adoration and giving pleasure – I’m a little jealous of Ginger, and I hope she inspires everyone who reads her story to want to be her!

[Men] Could you succumb to a cougar?

Absolutely! If she’s engaging, attractive and eager to experiment, I’d be pleased to be her laboratory!

Does your writing turn you on?

Yes, over and over! And if it doesn’t, we re-write and edit, edit, edit until it does. We’re fond of a quote by gay erotic author Lars Eighner from his book Elements of Arousal:

“The erotic scene is the jewel of the erotic story. The writer may justify the effort of rewriting this scene many times. When a writer finds himself as much physically affected by the tenth draft as he was by the first, he knows he is onto something.”

What do you find difficult about writing? What comes easy for you?

The tenth editing pass-through can become tedious. Writing the first draft when the characters are eager for us to capture their personalities and helping us get the plot just right—that’s the most fun. Also, doing the background research can be a lot of fun. Most of the time we’ve visited the settings in which we place our work. The internet helps us flesh out more details. We enjoy learning about careers and occupations that take us far afield, such as horse trainers, detectives, wine makers, exotic cancers, race car drivers, art curators, jewellery makers, outdoor guides and the occasional paranormal love goddess.

What are you working on now?

Do you have a current release or a new release coming soon? We’re wrapping up two erotic romance series celebrating bisexual heroines. Over at Extasy Books, the fifth book in our Swinging Games series came out as an e-book in January. At Whiskey Creek Press Torrid, Meghan’s Playhouse books 1 and 2 just released as a dual volume, soon to be in print, and we’re just polishing edits on the finale in the series, Meg’s Folly, scheduled for June. We’re also part of a lesbian love story anthology, To Love and To Cherish, releasing on Valentine’s Day at Love You Divine and benefitting Marriage Equality USA. For our next series we’re currently developing a combination historical/time travel paranormal erotic romance set in Wales and based on Celtic Welsh spirituality. We love delving into the research for this saga.

Where can we find you on the Web? Do you have a website or blog(s)? Any social networks?

Website: http://adrianakraft.com
Blog: http://adrianakraft.com/blog
Twitter: http://twitter.com/AdrianaKraft
MySpace: www.myspace.com/adrianakraft
Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MidnightSeductions/

SPECIAL OFFER: Pre-order THE COUGAR BOOK and get a free ebook copy of SWING! ADVENTURES IN SWINGING!

The Cougar Book – interview with Donna George Storey

All this month on the Logical-Lust blog we will have interviews from the authors of The Cougar Book, edited by Jolie du Pre. Today is Donna George Storey, author of “Comfort Food.”

What made you decide to submit your work for inclusion in The Cougar Book?

“Cougars” are all over popular culture these days, and I’m always interested in getting to the bottom of what’s cool. On the one hand, the recognition of mature female sexuality is a good thing, but some of the stereotypical aspects of the cougar image could use a makeover to properly reflect the richness and wisdom of older women. I challenged myself to write a story that would portray genuine chemistry between lovers of different generations: a well-seasoned woman and a younger man with a precocious appreciation of subtle spices. But the main draw, of course, is that I love Jolie du Pre’s work and am a big fan of her anthologies—in particular the recent Swing! I knew she’d put together a sensual and thought-provoking celebration of sexy women over 40, and I hoped to be a part of it. Indeed, the juicy list of contributors promises quite a feast!

Tell us about your story. Give us a little teaser.

My story “Comfort Food” is about how the art of cooking can nourish, heal and create surprising connections. There’s lots of delicious sex and a couple of tasty recipes, but I decided to share here a less explicit passage that captures the spirit of the cougar to me. The forty-four-year-old heroine is vacationing alone at a mountain resort. In this scene she’s hiking the trails around the inn and remembering her sexually-charged encounter with the brawny hotel chef the night before:

“With a sunny August sky cut by a cooling breeze, the weather was so perfect I could have ordered it off a menu. Thanks to the butterscotch pudding, all of my senses were heightened. I reveled in the shapes of each leaf growing along the path, the sound of the birdsong, the clean scent of baked earth and oxygen-rich air. And of course, all the time I was thinking of Joseph. What was he doing now? What experience in his brief life made him wary of sharing his recipes? He was a cook who clearly enjoyed eating. Would his cock be as solid and sturdy as the rest of his body? And most intriguing of all—would his semen really taste like vanilla cream pudding? Thirty years ago, I would have called these obsessive musings a crush, but I was wise enough now to know it had nothing to do with Joseph himself. It was all about me. I was a woman who could feel and want and enjoy life’s sensual pleasures. My desire made me more interesting to myself.”

To me, that last sentence is the essential feature of a cougar. She owns her sexuality and appreciates the power it gives her.

Could you see yourself being a cougar?

Absolutely. I’m forty-eight, which makes me official, but I also have some other key qualifications. I understand my power and what turns me on. I enjoy sex more than ever because I know how to get what I want. I’ve seen enough of life to appreciate the gifts of youth and to put them in perspective. If I were in the market for a new relationship (I’m not), I’d be very happy to show what I’ve learned to an enthusiastic younger man. I’m sure he’d have plenty to teach me too.

Does your writing turn you on?

You bet. I wouldn’t feel right asking my readers to pick up a story labelled “erotica” if it didn’t, at one point in its creation, make its author feel very tingly in my private places. I’ll share a little secret—I love dirty talk, so if you encounter X-rated dialogue in one of my stories, you know I was squirming in my chair when I wrote it! But writing also turns me on intellectually. I love working out the puzzles of plot, bringing a whole new horny characters to life, flirting with words. There is nothing I’d rather be doing than writing a hot, dirty story. Except, of course, having sex.

What do you find difficult about writing? What comes easy for you?

Let’s start with coming easily because that’s more fun. I just love it when a story takes on a life of its own and pulls me along with its energy, when characters tell me what they want to do, and scenes play out in my head like a movie I’m watching. This generally happens when I’m supposed to be doing something else, but when it’s good, it’s very easy.

The difficult part is always tied up with external validation, which tends to be a problem with longer projects. I have lots of time to worry if it’s good enough, if it hangs together, if it will “sell.” I’d much rather be writing and creating.

What are you working on now?

After talking about starting my second novel for most of last year, I’ve resolved to make some real progress in 2010 and seem to be keeping my vow so far. In my first novel, Amorous Woman [ISBN for Amazon link: 1905619170], I wandered to far-off Japan to explore sexuality in an exotic locale. This time I’ll be digging deep into the erotic underbelly of American history. The research is fascinating.

I’m also starting to make a series of podcasts of my short stories, because I just love to read—or rather purr—my words into a microphone. It all started when I made a book trailer [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlnXqY-LyEE] for Amorous Woman. Now I do voice-over work for others’ book trailers, which has been a lot of fun. So I figured why not extend this pleasure to my own work? (http://www.donnageorgestorey.com/audio.html)

Your birthday has been declared a national holiday. How do you want people to celebrate?

Actually, my birthday is December 31, so it is a sort of national holiday already. So just keep doing what you’re doing, folks: drink good champagne, contemplate a brand new year, and kiss a lot. Better yet, celebrate sensual pleasure and read some erotica to a partner or alone.

Where can we find you on the Web?

I’m on Facebook and would love to be friends if we aren’t already. I also have a web site with lots of lovely Japanese art and a blog where I’m posting updates on the progress I’m making on my novel. I also write a column for the Erotica Readers and Writers Association, “Cooking up a Storey” about my favorite topics— delicious sex, well-crafted food, and mind-blowing writing—which might explain why my cougar story is about a chef. You may also want to check out the archives for my column on “Shameless Self-Promotion,” the banner for which is, naturally, a picture of my butt. Speaking of nude photographs, I’m also part of an exciting new blog about sensual and creative self-expression called “F-Stop: Expose the Naked I.” I’m extending an official invitation to you all to come and expose yourself! Cougars and the men who love them are especially welcome.

My website:

http://www.donnageorgestorey.com/

My blog:

http://sexfoodandwriting.donnageorgestorey.com/

Cooking up a Storey:

http://www.erotica-readers.com/ERA/AR/Erotica_Authors_Resources.htm

Shameless Self-Promotion:

http://www.erotica-readers.com/ERA/Archive09/Archive_2009.htm

F-Stop: Expose the Naked I:

http://nakedi.wordpress.com/

SPECIAL OFFER: Pre-order THE COUGAR BOOK and get a free ebook copy of SWING! ADVENTURES IN SWINGING!

The Cougar Book – interview with Doug Harrison

All this month on the Logical-Lust blog we will have interviews from the authors of The Cougar Book, edited by Jolie du Pre. Today is Doug Harrison, author of “Sherry.”

Doug Harrison’s stories appear in twenty anthologies and an online memoir, In Pursuit of Ecstasy. Active in San Francisco’s leather community, he appeared in videos, photo shoots, and The AIDS Emergency Fund’s Bare Chest Calendar. He has two children, a granddaughter, and a bright, hunky partner. He lives in Hawaii.

What made you decide to submit your work for inclusion in The Cougar Book?

To thank the Cougar women who guided me as I emerged from a heterosexual marriage (2 children) into the pansexual BDSM community.

Also, my totem is the puma, and I’ve been addressed as Puma for many years. I’m not terribly athletic, but I was performing a ritual, a sun dance actually, and a Native American said that I did it “with the grace of a puma.” I knew my totem would reveal itself eventually, and I considered this a blessed event, a confirmation of sorts.

So, the pairing of the Cougar and the Puma seemed most natural

Tell us about your story.

A young man, a bisexual switch, goes to a pansexual play party and is approached by an elegant Cougar woman—his reputation preceded him. She invites him to her home where they discuss their backgrounds and finally, the distinction between bottoming and submitting. This emotional coupling leads to intense physical activity and, dare I say it, a spiritual connection.

Could you succumb to a cougar?

Yes! I have!
The dedication to my story is:
To the Cougar women in my life:
Memories of you swirl through archetypical mists of time and distance.
My gratitude for your empathy, passion, guidance, and love.

Does your writing turn you on?

Oh yes, (pant, pant) especially when the characters surprise me and engage in unusual, edgy activities.

What do you find difficult about writing? What comes easy for you?

Conversation comes easily, although I sometimes have to tone down or omit the puns and wisecracks (there’s a lot of Gilbert and Sullivan in my background, necessary to offset my expertise in Wagnerian music drama). The beginnings and endings of short stories are usually apparent when I’m answering a call for submissions, but filling in the middle can be difficult. To move the process along, I stretch out on my bed, close my eyes, and observe what the characters say and do as they take on a life of their own.

I have a technical background (PhD in optical physics), so I’m continually amazed when my erotica is accepted for publication. It’s difficult to think of myself as an author. Although sometimes things flow, more often each word, each sentence, each paragraph is laborious.

Your birthday has been declared a national holiday. How do you want people to celebrate?

Make passionate love and/or fuck their brains out, depending on who’s available, their predilections, and whatever comes naturally. Safe, sane, and consensual, of course!

You’re stranded on a desert island and you can only have one book, one album/CD, and one person with you—what would they be?

1. Born and Wolfe, Principles of Optics
2. Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde; Flagstad and Melchoir
3. My primary partner

What are you working on now? Do you have a current release or a new release coming out?

I recently submitted a long short story and I’m working on another, both erotica. I’ve almost finished an essay, both humorous and poignant, about my two cats, Dueling Cats and Domestic Tranquility: A Tale of Two Kitties. I’m being urged to do an anthology (scares me shitless), and I’m working on the proverbial novel.

My short story, Lonely Boy can be found in the anthology Best Gay Romance 2010, Richard Labonte, editor, which just hit the bookstores. No whips and chains, just good old fashioned romance.

Another short story, Mommy’s Boy, will appear in May in the anthology Please, Sir, edited by Rachel Kramer Bussel.

Where can we find you on the web?

Nowhere. My son, bless him, is setting up a website for me.

What is your favourite passage from your short story?

I positioned myself under the T-bar and held out my wrists. Sherry paused.
“Eager are we?” she asked.
“Eager and curious,” I replied. “Well?”
Sherri frowned. “I like my men to be willingly submissive. To squirm while I fuck you, yes; to have the option and pull away, and not, even if it hurts. Oh yes.”
I nodded. “You want me to continually give myself to you.”
“You understand.”
“I understand. I don’t agree.” I stepped toward Sherry. “I want to surrender myself to you all at once. And then sink into your power.”
Sherry’s eyes softened. “You’ve bottomed, but never really submitted, have you?”
“You understand, Cougar. Take your Puma, now!” I knelt, lowered my head, and held out my wrists.
Sherry put one finger under my chin and gently raised my head. Her eyes sparkled from the moonlight reflected in the mirror.
“I’m glad I can give you this,” she said softly, and then whispered, “Puma.”
She released my head.
“Thank you, Mistress.”
Her eyes misted. “And thank you.”
“Now, down to business.” She shook her head, squared her shoulders, and looked every bit the senior executive. Or Domina. “Stand!”

SPECIAL OFFER: Pre-order THE COUGAR BOOK and get a free ebook copy of SWING! ADVENTURES IN SWINGING!