New review for “The Cougar Book”

Check out the review at Alternative-Read.com about The Cougar Book !

Uploading our titles to NOOK

We’ve been working to get our titles available in the NOOK  Bookstore at Barnes & Noble. The following titles should now be available:

Pilgrim for Love – Anna Austen Leigh

Sappho’s Sisters – Berengaria Brown

Land of a Thousand Dances – Evelyn Applegate

Scouts – Nobilis Reed

Tight Women in Hard Places – Alicia Night Orchid

Spank! – Edited by D. L. King

The Cougar Book – Edited by Jolie du Pré

More titles will follow as soon as we can get them up. Watch this space!

Review for The Cougar Book

Coffee Time Romance has posted their review for The Cougar Book.

4 out of 5 cups!

2 chances 2 win our EPIC eBook Award finalists!

We are running a contest at AuthorIsland.com to honor our 2011 EPIC eBook Award finalists:

The Hollows (Book 1) by Ben Larken

A Human Reaction (Book 1) by Peter Ashley

Scouts (Book 1) by Nobilis Reed

The Cougar Book edited by Jolie du Pre

The first part of the contest has a deadline of Saturday March 12 so enter soon!

Go here for details!

 

Scouts, The Cougar Book – finalists for EPIC’s eBook Awards™ 2011

Formerly the EPPIE

It’s a happy day at Logical-Lust Publications with the news of two of our titles making the final round of EPIC’s eBook Awards™!

Formerly the EPPIE, EPIC’s eBook Awards™ are the oldest ebook award recognition program still in existence.

Notices went out to finalists last night so authors all over are waking up to some very good news!

Finalist:  Erotic Romance Division – Science Fiction Erotic Romance Category:

Scouts – by Nobilis Reed

Finalist:  Anthology Division – Erotica and Erotic Romance Category:

The Cougar Book – edited by Jolie du Pré

So congratulations must go out to The Cougar Book contributors who made it all possible!

Brenna Lyons

Adriana Kraft

Randall Lang

Emerald

Julia Barrett

Sascha Illyvich

Rachel Kramer Bussel

Tara S. Nichols

Jeremy Edwards

Jolene Hui

Keeb Knight

Donna George Storey

Shanna Germain

Doug Harrison

D.L. King

Madeline Moore

Heidi Champa

Craig J. Sorensen

J. C. Wesner

Bill Brent

Dona Lee

Trish DeVene

Blue Canyon

And thank you Valerie Gibson for your wonderful introduction!

We’re making plans to attend the awards banquet that closes out the 2011 EPICon in Williamsburg, VA March 10-13.

If you can make it—hopefully we will see you there!

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 Sascha Illyvich

For the last month on the Logical-Lust blog we have had interviews from the authors of The Cougar Book, edited by Jolie du Pre. Today we are wrapping up the series with Sascha Illyvich, author of “Whiskey Spread.”

Sascha Illyvich is the type of man your mother warned you about, but you’re drawn to him anyway. This is good because Sascha will teach you things and take you places. Not only that–he’s everywhere–in print, online, on the radio, and right now, he’s on the Logical-Lust blog.

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

Jolie du Pre is a leading erotica author and to be in an anthology with one of my students is an honour.

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

Morgan, owner of a famous cigar bar in San Francisco, has it for one of her younger regulars and vows to seduce him through a private scotch tasting.

Could you succumb to a cougar?

All day. In fact, are you a cougar? If so, ask Jolie for my home address… and then get here. *wicked grins* Come here. No really. Come here. Sit on my lap. I wear a kilt…

Does your writing turn you on?

Yes. Doesn’t everyone’s?

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’ve been in ebooks for ten years. You tell me.

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

Sobriety is the hardest part about writing. Also, having to remind myself that it’s not complex character plots that drive a story, but a story that can accommodate the widest range of readers – that’s what sells. Easy parts about writing? The actual writing most of the time.

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

Everyone should go light up a cigar and pour themselves a drink or six.

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?

One book – The Cougar Book anthology of course! One CD: Tough call. Probably…Alpha or Chapter VII by Sevendust. Person: My soul mate.

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

Lots of things. A motivational book on success, a faery/wolf BDSM male dominant story involving hot sex and cyberpunk themes, and getting an Agent.

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

Twitter: twitter.com/saschaillyvich
Web: www.saschaillyvich.com
WriteSEX – www.writesex.net – a blog defining erotica for authors of all genres
Radio Dentata – Host of the UnNamed Romance Show – www.radiodentata.com
Secret Whispers – www.secretwhispers.com (it’s bisexual erotica)

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

The Cougar Book – interview with Jolie du Pre

All this month on the Logical-Lust blog we have had interviews from the authors of The Cougar Book, edited by Jolie du Pre. Today, we hear from Jolie herself as she talks about her inspiration for The Cougar Book and what went into creating the anthology.

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Am I a Cougar? I’m certainly old enough. Cougar women are typically 40 and over, and I’m in my 40′s. As a woman who has been married for over 20 years, I’m not in the market for a younger man. However, if I weren’t married I wouldn’t be opposed to it.

I consider myself young at heart, as well as physically young. Life doesn’t end at 40. Indeed, for some it’s the beginning of a new life. At 40, you are more aware of you who are and of what you want. If you’ve had children, chances are those children are teenagers or out of the house. This is the time when many women, who have spent the earlier part of their lives taking care of others, begin to take care of themselves. This may be the part of your life when you start an exercise program or when you finally get the courage to wear an item of clothing that you’ve avoided, like that short skirt!

Although I don’t live my life as a Cougar, I have a huge appreciation for Cougars. That’s the reason why I decided to pitch to Logical-Lust, The Cougar Book. I enjoyed editing Swing: Adventures in Swinging by Today’s Top Erotica Writers and I enjoyed working with Logical-Lust. Therefore, I knew that if Logical-Lust accepted my idea, The Cougar Book would be a great collection. And it is. The Cougar Book contains 23 stories about older women with younger men, and they are all beautifully written.

What bothered me most about putting this collection together was the amount of stories I had to reject, including some from those who submitted to Swing. I could only accept 23, and it was a tough decision. In the end, the stories I did accept best represented what I wanted for the book. I am also very proud of the fact that these stories represent some of the best in erotica. It is wrong to assume that a small press is unable to put together a collection of stories by some of the best names in erotica. The Cougar Book contains stories by authors Bill Brent, Rachel Kramer Bussel, Donna George Storey, Jeremy Edwards, Madeline Moore, Shanna Germain, and more.

The Cougar Book is my tribute to older women. Older women are not only smart and nurturing, but energetic and sexy. I am very pleased that Valerie Gibson, the original Cougar woman, agreed to write the introduction. Valerie has had a distinguished career introducing the Cougar phenomenon to the US. In addition to authoring Cougar, A Guide for Older Women Dating Younger Men, Valerie has appeared on a variety of radio and television programs including NBC’s Today Show, The Montel Williams Show, The Dr. Phil Show, ABC’s PrimeTime Live, Geraldo-at-Large and more.

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

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Jolie du Pre (Joliedupre.com) is a full-time freelance writer who writes for a variety of sites, including Associated Content and Seed.
Jolie is also an editor and author of erotica. Her stories have appeared in a variety of Web sites, in eBook, and in print anthologies including, Cream: The Best of ERWA edited by Lisabet Sarai, Best Lesbian Erotica 2007 edited by Tristan Taormino, Best Erotica 2007 edited by Berbera and Hyde, Purple Panties, edited by Zane, and Making the Hook-Up, edited by Cole Riley, among others. Jolie is the editor of Swing! Adventures in Swinging by Today’s Top Erotica Writers, published by Logical-Lust and Iridescence: Sensuous Shades of Lesbian Erotica, published by Alyson Books.
Jolie is the founder of GLBT Promo (GlbtPromoBlog.com), a promotional group for GLBT erotica and erotic romance. Her lesbian dating site is MeetHerHere.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!