Six Sentence Sunday

Happy Sunday!

This week I thought I'd show a little love to Twenty One Days to a Better Attitude. Darcy's new neighbor has decreed that he will be at her house every Saturday night to spank her. This week, he's decided to add some corner time, though it takes Darcy a minute or two to figure out his intent.

Ben took her hand, but instead of leading her to the bed, he led her to the corner of the room. He gripped her shoulders and turned her to face the wall.

This could be interesting, she thought.

A thrill went through her when she felt Ben reach under her skirt and pull her panties down around her ankles. I guess he’s not much into foreplay... Or maybe he just can’t wait.

Hot breath filled her ear. “In order to make the effect of the spanking last longer, you’re going to do some corner time.


Thanks for stopping by. Please visit the many other Six Sentence Sunday participants.

A Challenge from Sophie Sansregret

Sophie Sansregret has posted a challenge on her blog and called me out. Well...

The challenge is to find the word LOOK in your current work in progress and then post the sentences around it. Choose your three favorite Looks to post.

Mine are from my current work in progrees: Newlywed...Again the story of a couple in their 40s who are taking a second (or third) chance on love.


*****

We  checked in to the hotel, one of the strip casinos, and headed for our room. As we approached the room, excitement hurried me along. Even though we’d agreed on a regular room, I’d booked us a suite. I knew Jack would love the surprise.

I let him open the door and then he attempted to carry me over the threshold, but given his bad back and my middle aged ass, I suggested we save our energy for consummating our marriage.  Besides, I wanted to see the LOOK on his face when he saw the suite and if he was straining under my weight it might be hard for him to focus.

    ******

Jack was so handsome it made my heart ache to LOOK at him and realize that he loved me. Me. And wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. Me. Can you believe it? I hardly can. In fact, I’d become so determined that there was no man out there for me that I’d stopped shaving my legs. What was the point?

On the fourth day of my cavewoman experiment the dog rubbed up against my calf and left a tuft of hair, so I started to at least shave anything in the dog’s range.

*****

Like a moth to a flame, I headed for, well, head. I crawled onto the

lower part of the bed and knelt between his legs and took his cock into my mouth. All of it. All the way down to the shaft. I nestled his balls in my right hand, grasped the base of his shaft in my left and slid my mouth and hand up and down the length of him in unison.

I LOOKEd up at Jack, because I sort of like having an audience and knowing that my efforts are appreciated gets me hot. He did not disappoint.  Propped up on a couple of pillows so he could watch, Jack smiled his approval. Our eyes met and I felt him get even harder against my tongue.

****

I've learned that I use "look" pretty frequently so I might need to get a thesaurus. A fun challenge, Sophie. Thanks!

And now I'm throwing down the challenge to:

Renee Rose

Cara Bristol

Adaline Raine

Anastasia Vitsky

April Vine

Congratulations Adaline Raine

Finally made it to 100,000 page views! Thanks everyone and just because the contest is over, doesn't mean you should stop commenting.

Congratulations to Adaline Raine, the winner of the drawing. I used Random.org (thanks to Cara Bristol for telling me about that handy tool). There were 89 comments (other than my own).

Now, on to 200K!

It's Gonna Be A Big Day

I can just feel it.

For one thing, it looks like today should be the day that we finally hit 100,000 page views. Yay!
Thank you so much to all of your for visiting and commenting.

Once the meter hits 100K it will be time for the drawing for an Amazon gift card. There's still time to enter, just leave a comment and include your email address.

Other things that make this a big day:

I'm going to send my current work in progress, Newlywed...Again off to my critique partner. This is both wonderful and terrifying. I'll be glad to have it out of my hands for a couple of days, but I'll wait with bated breath (whatever that means) to get it back from her and hope she doesn't suggest that I find another line of work.

At 8 pm EST the new season of The Big Bang Theory will be on. Please don't call between 8 and 8:30.

I'm going to clean my house. I hope you were sitting down for that.

What about you? What's going to make today a great day for you?

Writing Wednesday---Dancing with Stevie McCoy

Hi Everyone! Let's give a warm welcome to Stevie McCoy who is here to talk about spanking and dancing and flash fiction.

3 Steps to a Good Spank

Let’s start off by saying a good spank like dance, or perhaps many other things, have steps for optimal performance. In dance, there are three essential steps that when placed together in different sequences create various different dance moves. So wouldn’t it be the same that there are three important steps to create the foundation for a good spanking?

Step 1: The Walking Step

I know this may seem like a redundant step, but you’d be amazed by how many people forget how to walk when they’re told they’re supposed to be dancing. So you say the word dance and the one move they already knew how to do on a daily basis becomes stiff and awkward.

This is no problem it just requires a little muscle memory recharge.

So when you’re writing a spanking scene just remember that for any good writing scene, in general, it is important to have good character depth. I need to care about the character and feel what they feel. Once you’ve accomplished that then it won’t matter if you place the character in an awkward situation because it isn’t awkward with the right amount of buildup and foundation.

Step 2: The Side Step

In dance the side step is kind of like being in crowded bleachers and really needing to leave, but none of the people want to make it easy for you. So what do you do? You scoot one foot out to the side then drag the other foot to meet it and then repeat the process.

It’s essentially the walking step, but to the side.

This in the spanking scene world translates to needing more than one way of delving into your character. So you’ve walked your character out, now it’s time to make sure they are well rounded and can do it to the side. For instance, ask yourself the questions:

What has the character done, or not done, to deserve a spanking?

What is your character’s personality and how would they react to being spanked?

Who exactly is doing the spanking and in what way?

The side step is flushing out all the options and questions to determine the best way, you’re character, would react or handle the situation.  

Step 3: The Rocking Step

The rock step, in dance, is where you step forward, with your back foot still behind you, and you transfer your weight from the front to the back and repeat. Like a rocking chair when your front foot is rolled to its heel the back foot is flat, and when the front foot is flat the back foot is rolled to the toes.

Basically, this is the step where when we think the character is going to move forward, they hesitate, and end up moving a step backwards instead. In all stories it’s important to remember the journey to self-discovery is not always a straight one and sometimes it takes a step back in order to move two steps forward, later.

A great way to hone your skills is to get the same effect in a limited amount of words, like flash fiction challenges.

Flash Fiction:  Letting Go

I came to this spot, on the edge of the gorge, where 50 feet below were trees and rapid waters, every weekend. With my hands on the railing of the bridge, I would close my eyes to feel everything around me from the scent of the pine, the sound of the water crashing against the rocks, to the soft mist upon my face. The whole world seemed to spin with the sensations so I clung to the metal barrier between the nature and myself to steady it.

“I was beginning to think there was another man.” Luke’s voice rung in my ears like a distant echo, making it difficult for me to believe he was anything more than a memory in my mind.

“Nature is a beast of a man.”  I smiled to myself.

“You should go home.” His voice whispered delicately into my ear. Hot breath tingled down my neck making his closeness all too real. I tightened my eyes closed trying to keep his presence fresh.

“Not yet.” I sighed.

A sharp sting hit my backside sending my heart racing. I jumped in shock. Turning around like a sharp whip, I heaved staring into the vacant wind. A dull throb pulsed through my tender cheek and I rubbed at it to smooth out the feeling.

“I’m not ready.” To let go of him, just yet.  I stared at my flushed hand and then realized I had done it myself.

His voice repeated in my mind, “Go home.” It was time to move on. I crouched down then wrapped my legs and arms around one of the bridge railings. Resting my head on the chilled metal, I cried. The tears flowed freely from their confines as I clung to the bridge my husband last drove on. A deep nagging part of my soul wished for a car to not notice the spec of a person staring out into the beast.

I knew better and I would go home, just not yet.

332 words

Thank you for having me on your blog Celeste, and Happy Spanking to everyone!

 
Stevie McCoy is a paranormal fantasy romance writer that enjoys ballroom dancing, flash fiction, and everything writerly. You can find her on twitter @theglitterlady and on her blog www.glitterword.wordpress.com for flashfiction challenges, author interviews, and book reviews. Or you can check out her serialized fiction and personal updates on www.heavensfiction.blogspot.com 

Thank you Stevie! I love dancing (even though I try to lead) and your advice is wonderful.

Re-Tweeting

About a month ago I wrote a post complaining about Twitter. You can revisit it here. I still have the same complaints about Over Tweeting and Political Tweets, but I must also admit that I've found some new appreciation for Twitter.

I read an article somewhere (btw---I once had a friend propose a drinking game for every time I said "I read...") by a woman who pointed out that many great things that had happened in her writing career could be linked to Twitter. Pretty bold, eh?

Basically she said that she couldn't say that Twitter had directly caused book sales. But, through Twitter she had connected with other writers who invited her to participate in their blogs or writers groups or speak at conferences.

I thought about this for myself and I can't disagree. For example. I learned about a bloghop on Twitter. During the bloghop I gave away a $10 Amazon gift card. The winner was another writer. When I recognized her name somewhere else, I went to her blog. She was looking for people to write guest posts...voila, I'm doing a guest post (November 7. Mark your calendars. Don't worry, I'll probably mention it again.)

I read (drink now) another article with tips on using Twitter effectively without feeling like you're just Tweeting about yourself. This article suggested (as far as I can remember, but it's something like this) for every tweet about your book or blog, you tweet twice about someone else.

I've found this much more satisfying. Instead of thinking "what can I say about my book now?" I think "which of my Twitter Friends can I tweet about?" I still Tweet about myself (of course) but it doesn't seem so pushy now.

I can't remember, but I'd dare say that the connections with my spanking writer pals might have mostly come from Twitter too.

So, how can you get the most out of Twitter? I'm not sure, but here are a couple suggestions.

First, you could find me @celestejones130 and follow me. Then, you could look at the list of people I follow and see if there's anyone there that looks interesting. After you pick out a few of those folks, you might look at who they are following...and on and on...Start out slow. Twitter can be a little overwhelming.

Unlike Facebook, you can unfollow someone without causing a family rift. I understand that there are programs that people can use to see who unfollows them, but I'm not worried about it.

When you're on Twitter, you might see lots of hashtags (#) and wonder what that's about. Good question. If I tweet about one of my books or another spanking book I'll include #spanking. If you were to go to one of those tweets and click on #spanking, that will take you to a list of all the people who have used that hashtag recently.

Hashtags can be fun if you're watching TV. Let's say that this Thursday you're glued to your set for the premier of The Big Bang Theory. If you search for #bigbang #TBBT #bigbangtheory etc, you'll find other people watching and commenting about the show and you can join the conversation.

Finally, Twitter is a fun way to connect with real people. Yes, real people. But, you need to be a real person too. So, tweet something personal, but not too personal: "I love this fall weather." "Those replacement refs suck" "My dog hates thunderstorms" "I want the new red Uggs" "Building a house is getting on my nerves".

And if you see someone tweet about those things and it's of interest to you, hit reply and give them a witty 140 character response.

I'm Visiting Ana Today

I'm chatting with Ana today over at Governing Ana about Kindles, ebooks and self-publishing. Please stop by and say hi.

Six Sentence Sunday...More from My WIP

Here's another snippet from Newlywed...Again, which is the story of 46 year old Kate Larsen and her journey to submission in her new marriage. Kate, an ardent feminist, has discovered that she likes being spanked my her new husband. How will she resolve this revelation about herself with her lifelong beliefs about women and men?

The set up---Kate has teased her husband into playing "the naughty girl game" with her.

For a slow starter in this little role playing game, Jack learned fast and seemed to grow into the role, if you know what I mean, with each passing moment.

He walked toward me, a sexy but determined grin on his face, and grasped my wrist. It wasn’t a sensuous move, but the feeling of being taken in hand, the anticipation that I was about to submit to something unknown, created a veritable ocean in my nether yaya.

Jack gave my wrist a gentle tug at the same time that he put his foot on a rung of one of the bar stools around the kitchen island. Next thing I knew, I was across his denim clad knee, skirt up and panties down.

He sure moved fast.

 

You can find Six Sentence Snippets from a wide range of authors here.

And don't forget to comment for a chance to be the big winner in the 100K Giveaway.

Ever Vigilant

My first semester of law school, I studied like crazy. I wrote definitions for the words I didn't know in the margins of my casebooks. I was always prepared for class and when the end of semester exams came along (which accounted for 100% of my grades) I kicked ass. I studied each day and did all the little things I needed to do and it paid off at exam time.

So the next semester I did the same thing, right? I studied and wrote definitions? Nope. I got cocky. I thought "I've got this handled". I read cases quickly and didn't take notes and at the end of the semester when those exams came around...I got C's.

Another example. A few years ago I was in great shape. I walked several miles each day. Bread and potatoes never passed my lips. Then little things happened, nothing major, just little things that made me think I didn't need to be quite so vigilant. I could have a cookie or an order of fries. And, I probably could, but once I started down that slippery slope---I had a cookie and didn't gain weight, so why not have another? Now...sigh...

And, when those things happen and I realize that I worked so hard to get to a certain level and let it slip away, I get mad at myself.

I've read some posts around bloggerville lately (my apologies for not naming them, but honestly once I start clicking from blog to blog then a new blog roll to explore...I forget where I am and where I've been) about how easy it is to slip away from the little things that make a DD relationship work and when those little things are left out, it doesn't take long before things get way off track.

My point? I guess what I'm trying to say is that I've learned that when something is important to me, whether it's my health, my writing or my relationships, I need to be vigilant every day, including all the little things.

Reminder---the 100K giveaway is still going on. Leave a comment with your email address for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card.

My First Month as a Self-Published Author

It's been a month since Underwear Probation went live on Amazon and it's been very exciting for me.

Before I self-published, I had three other books out that were produced by a publisher. That was nice because someone else did the work and sent it to me to approve. But, I wanted to see if I could do it myself.

I've been fascinated by epublishing, and self-publishing in particular, for quite some time. I love the idea that old publishing rules are out the window---books come in all lengths and price ranges and topics now. The option to self-publish appeals to my rebel nature, though some might say that I just like to be in charge.

I was particularly intimidated by the idea of designing a cover, but I did it and it was fairly easy, especially compared to what I expected. I get a sense of accompishment when I see it because it reminds me that I did something that I wasn't sure I could do.

But, beyond the advancements of my tech know-how, the real thrill has been checking my sales (ok, sometimes obsessively) each day. Not because I'm getting rich, but because each sale gave me a little thrill.  Someone bought my book! If you bought Underwear Probation I might not have known that you specifically were the person who bought it, but you should know that each time I saw my sales numbers go up by a sale or two, it made me smile and sometimes cheer. Even if my sales number only goes up by one number each day, I get a little giddy nonetheless. So, please know that your purchase is sincerely appreciated and it made me smile and possibly dance around a little bit.

I get royalty checks from my publisher for my other books, but they usually come months after the books were sold. I like getting the checks, but there's something about knowing right away that books have been sold that really motivates me to keep writing.

There are many advantages and disadvantages to both self-publishing and working with a publisher and each writer should make the decision that works best for them. But, for the last month, self-publishing has been pretty exciting for me.

Thanks everyone for your support and kind words.

And---if any of you have questions about self-publishing, I'm no expert, but I'm happy to share what I know. My contact info is in the tabs at the top of the page so feel free to email me with any questions you have.

Would You Like to Borrow Underwear Probation?

I recently enrolled Underwear Probation in Kindle Direct Publishing Select (KDP Select). What this means is that if you are an Amazon Prime member you can borrow Underwear Probation (and thousands of other titles as well) for free.

I'm not an Amazon Prime member (though I might become one) and I have no opinion on whether this is a good program for you to join or not. But, if you are a member, I'd be curious to hear what you think of it.

And don't forget that the 100K giveaway is still going on. So leave a comment to be entered in the drawing for a $10 Amazon gift card.

Writing Spankng Stories Wednesday---Guest Post by Renee Rose Why Spanking and Vampires Go Together

A big thank you to Renee Rose for her guest post today where she answers the burning question:

Why do Vampires and Spanking Go Together?

I've always thought vampires were hot. And it's not about the blood. Because I am a royal blood wimp. I'm the girl the Red Cross calls at home and says, “we're going to ask you not to try to donate again for at least one year” because I convulsed like a fish when they tried to get a pint. I am so grateful (knock on wood) that one of my children have not had a serious bleeding accident, because I fear they would see their mama pass out cold.

 No, it's about the biting.

And the sucking.

It's about the pleasure/pain principle.

And it's that last fact that explains why vampires and spanking go together, at least in my mind.

Full disclosure: I was a biter. I bit other kids growing up. I once bit the guy my mom was dating (you can imagine how well that went over). I bit my boyfriends. I bite my husband. So, you can see how biting might be a turn-on for me.

I do, however, consider myself immensely fortunate that neither of my kids were biters. The trouble with biters is that it's really hard to get them to stop. They're not bad kids, it just feels good to bite. But if you have the misfortune of having a biter, you have to be constantly vigilant. I had a friend who was the world's fasted interceptor between her toddler's mouth and his target. It was pretty impressive. Oops, I digressed.

Okay, back to pleasure/pain. Yep, vampires bite and suck and it's not just about feeding-- it's also sexual. So yeah-- can you see the similarities. Spanking's not just about discipline-- it's also sexual. So why not create a vampire that bites, sucks and spanks???

Do you like it? I thought it made perfect sense when I created Dom, the alpha vampire from my latest spanking romance Deathless Love, who is happy to give the hot little mortal Kate Strand a spanking when she wants one-- and sometimes even when she doesn't.

Dom is the owner of the club where Kate's band sings and he literally sniffs out her predilection for spanking one night in his office. Of course, he did what any good dom would do and he bent her over his desk and delivered. And it was definitely a spanking with a happy ending, if you know what I mean. From there, their sexcapades continue until vampire drama threatens to tear them apart.

You don't have to be turned on by vampires to enjoy Deathless Love, though. Mrs. Soft Bottom hates the genre and she still liked it!

You can read the first chapter of Deathless Love on my blog. 

 
Purchase Now on Amazon or Amazon UK or Barnes and Noble or Blushing Books

Thanks Renee! 

And don't forget about the contest to win a $10 Amazon gift card. Details here.

100K (pvs) Give-A-Way

Hi Everyone!

If you look over there -----> I've added a page view counter. Currently it's at about 91,000 pvs. Isn't that fantastic?

I started this blog in January and only got a handful of pvs per day (probably most of them were mine) then things started picking up and in June Google started to recognize my blog when people searched for "spanking stories" and things really took off from there.

Now look---nearly 100,000 page views. Woohooo.

I am truly humbled and grateful for all the people who visit and comment (and I even love all the lurkers out there...you know who you are).

In order to celebrate this big event, I'm having a contest. For every comment between now and when the pv counter hits 100,000, your name will be entered in a drawing for a $10 Amazon gift card.

I know what you're thinking---Wow, how do I enter?

Here's how. Just leave a comment and include your email address in the body of the comment because if you're the winner, I'll email the gift card to you.

A comment on any post (there are over 100 of them) will count and you can enter as many times as you like. So, take some time to look around. There are free stories (and you can comment on them too) in the tab above. There's a list of popular posts as well as a blog archive listed to the right.

To think that there are people all around the world who stop by and visit my little blog on a regular basis is an honor. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I think I'm getting verklempt. Click here for definition of verklempt.

Six Sentences from My Spanking WIP

Happy Sunday! For the last few weeks I've been sharing from my new release, Underwear Probation (and you should feel free to check it out by clicking on the pink clad panties over there ---->) but today I am doing something new: Sharing from my current Work In Progress (WIP) Newlywed...Again.

Newlywed...Again is the story of 46 year old Kate Larsen who has just gotten married for the...ahem...third time. Kate is used to doing things for herself and frankly, she's terrified about failing at marriage yet again. Will she be able to let down her guard and let Jack be her husband and more importantly, will she let him into her life as a partner?

Here, Kate and Jack are on their honeymoon and she just had her first (erotic) spanking.

“How’s my naughty little girl feeling after her spanking?”

God help me---I know it’s ridiculous and childish and asinine, but being called his naughty little girl turned me to giggly goo. I ducked my head, my toes curled and I looked up at him through lowered lashes and said “Was I really naughty?”

You know how Joann Worley used to put her finger to her cheek and smile? If we hadn’t been walking in a crowd, I probably would have done something like that and pushed my toes together in a little girl pigeon toed sort of thing.

What the hell was wrong with me?

 

Mark your calendars! Newlywed...Again will be available mid-October.

Be sure to check out all the other great Six Sentence Sunday participants here.

Friday Fantasy Spanking Story

I'm very excited to be part of PK's Fantasy Friday. I hope you'll stop by to read an excerpt from Underwear Probation and say Hi.

Writing Spanking Stories Wednesday---Conflict

There are a number of different definitions of what a story is, but generally it's something like:

A character who wants something and is willing to face conflict to get it.

If we just have a character who wants something, then that's someone sitting in a chair daydreaming. But, if we add conflict, internal or external or both, that creates a story.

Conflict creates action, or the anticipation of action, and that creates suspense. And that's what makes a story compelling.

In Underwear Probation, Daisy wants professional success, but she also wants to learn to submit to her husband. In this scene, those two desires appear to be in conflict, which creates tension.

           Time for your inspection. Please lean over the desk.”

Daisy looked toward the door, then back at Reece.

“The rules are meant to be followed immediately and without hesitation. Don’t you trust me to know what to do?”

“Y-yes,” Daisy was torn. She wanted to follow the rules and please Reece, but what if someone came to the door? How could she ever return to work once everyone in the office found out that she’d been caught bent over her desk with her bare ass exposed?

“I was going to lock the door,” Reece said, “but since you didn’t follow my instructions right away, I’m imposing a new sanction.”

Daisy watched in horror as he walked to the door and opened it a few inches, then turned to his wife. “You are my wife and you need to trust me. So, you can either trust my judgment and bend over that desk right now, or you can walk out that door. It’s your choice.”

In a spanking story, the question of submission can be a source of conflict. Even in a romance where you know there will be a happily ever after, the question of how they will get there, can they resolve their conflicts, is what keeps you reading.

In Cara Bristol's False Pretenses, Dan and Emma are totally hot for each other and rapidly falling in love. But, they each have a secret that the other doesn't know about. Keeping a secret creates conflict. How does Emma keep Dan from knowing what she's up to? Will he find out? What will happen if he does? As readers we know these two secrets are going to collide and that's what keeps us going. (Plus the hot sex and spanking...)

So, last week we talked about story ideas. Now that you have an idea or two, how can you create conflict? Conflict doesn't have to be two people arguing with each other. It can be an internal conflict: a woman wants to find love but she doesn't feel sexy because she's overweight, so when a man hits on her she ignores him because she assumes he just feels sorry for her. Her desire to find love is in conflict with her attitude about herself (which is NOT the same as saying she won't find love because she's fat).

An external conflict---they are on opposite sides of a hot button issue, or at least a hot button issue for the two of them. In the movie, You've Got Mail, the conflict is between the small, personal bookstore and the mega boxstore bookseller. Most people might not care, but for Meg Ryan's character, it was a big deal.

Conflict also molds the characters and at least one of them ends up changed in some way in order for the story to work out.

What are some ways to create conflict that you've seen in books or movies? Which ones work and which ones don't? Are there any that you think are overused?

Spanking Story Writer Emma K. Gardner In the Hot Seat

Hi everyone! I'm very excited to have Emma K. Gardner here for an interview. Emma is the author of several spanking stories, including Asking for A Spanking, Time for a Spanking, Taken in Hand and several others.

Celeste Jones: Of all the different genres you could write in, why did you choose spanking fiction? Have you written in other genres before?

Emma K. Gardner: I’ve written in the paranormal genre (people with powers and vampires, mostly!).  Spanking fiction is the only kind of erotica I’ve written, just because it’s what I find sexy and so the most fun to write.

Celeste Jones: What do you consider to be some of the challenges of writing these types of stories?

Emma K. Gardner: Finding new ways to describe the sensations of giving or receiving a spanking.  I can also fall into something of a pattern in the way a spanking progresses.  It helps me to find different kinds of characters to shake up the dynamic.

Celeste Jones: You’re a self-published author. Can you tell us a little bit about what that experience has been like for you? Do you think you would ever consider working with a publisher?

Emma K. Gardner: I have found self-publishing really satisfying.  It’s a good feeling to be able to take control of everything. ;)  On the downside, even though I feel like I proofread carefully, and set the manuscript in really large print when I proofread so I won’t miss anything, I still miss things.  I’m working on it!!  I WILL create a flawless manuscript!  I also don’t think the covers have quite the polished look they would with a publisher.  Still, at this point I want to continue self-publishing, and hope I continue to find ways to improve.

Celeste Jones: Your first few books were contemporary, but you have recently released two Regency spanking stories, The Headstrong MissHenley and The Scheming Miss Sinclair.  What made you decide to go back in time? What are the challenges of going from contemporary fiction to Regency era fiction?

Emma K. Gardner: I just love Regencies.  I’ve read a ton of them, and I thought it would be fun to write one.  As soon as I finished  Miss Henley, I leapt right into The Scheming Miss Sinclair, and I have another Regency in mind.  I just love the trappings of that world, the balls, the gowns, the carriage rides and strolls.  I also find all the rules—no waltzing without the approval of the patronesses at Almack’s, no showing one’s hat lining, no women walking out unescorted, no women walking past the men’s clubs at all, and so on—useful in coming up with reasons for a spanking.  I think at some point, although not with the next story, I’m going to turn the tables and have an earl or a duke get spanked.  I’m sure I can come up with a few who deserve it.  

Celeste Jones: What’s your latest release? Please tell us about it.  

Emma K. Gardner: My most recent release is the Regency I mentioned, The Scheming Miss Sinclair.  The story opens with Lucy Sinclair ruining her reputation by being caught alone at a ball with Lord Reece.  She plotted the whole thing with the help of Lord Reece’s sister, because she has been in love with him since she was a girl and hasn’t been able to get his attention, although she’s gotten several proposals from other gentleman.

Understandably, Lord Reece is quite angry at her, and once they are—quite quickly—wed, he immediately spanks her for her atrocious behavior, and sets out to turn her into the ideal, submissive wife with more punishment.

What I liked about writing this story, is that Lucy was actually somewhat surprised that Lord Reece was so upset.  She really thought he’d be pleased to have her for his bride.  I also liked that she and he are really very well suited to each other.  I’m a sucker for a happy ending.  

Celeste Jones: What is your writing day like? Do you have a set schedule for writing?

Emma K. Gardner: I really don’t have a schedule.  I do have a coffee shop I love to write in.  All I do there is write, so as soon as I get there, I slide into writing head.

Celeste Jones: Are you a panster or a plotter?

Emma K. Gardner: Weirdly, with the spanking stories I’m pretty much a pantser.  With the other kinds of writing I do, I’m a chapter-by-chapter outliner, a full-on plotter.  Maybe because in the other genres I write full-length books, and, so far, I’ve just written spanking stories. 

Celeste Jones: Is Emma K. Gardner a pen name? If so, who in your life knows about your career as a writer of spanking fiction? Do you find it challenging to keep that part of your life a secret?

Emma K. Gardner: It’s a pen name.  A bunch of my friends and even my mom know I write erotica.  I haven’t filled them in on the specific type, though, and I’ve only told two people my pen name.  I haven’t found it hard to keep it a secret, maybe because I write other stuff, so people who don’t know don’t think it’s weird that I’m writing all the time. 

Celeste Jones: Do you consider yourself a feminist? If so, how do you reconcile feminism and submission?

Emma K. Gardner: I definitely consider myself a feminist.  Personally, I enjoy erotic spankings, but don’t want true disciplinary spankings.  I’m not saying women who are given those spankings aren’t feminists.  Just that, for me, consensual is what works.  I do write stories with non-consensual spankings, and I find reading stories with disciplinary spankings sexy.  I don’t feel like I need to censor my fantasies.  And, unless a woman is actually being spanked without entering into a relationship where she's agreed to accept them, it’s all the woman’s choice.  Choices are what feminism is to me.

Celeste Jones: What tips or advice do you have for people who might be thinking about writing spanking fiction?

Emma K. Gardner: I think reading a lot is great for figuring out writing techniques.  Also, I think it helps for writers to write about what excites them.

Celeste Jones: What’s your guilty pleasure?

Emma K. Gardner: Ben & Jerry’s New York Super Fudge Chunk.  And Dance Moms.  Sometimes together. 

Celeste Jones: Anything else you’d like to add?

Emma K. Gardner: Thanks for the chat!

 Thank you, Emma!

Here's more about The Scheming Miss Sinclair 

Miss Lucy Sinclair is used to getting everything she desires, and what she desires most is marriage to Lord Reece. Although she has received three proposals since her come out, although her drawing room is filled with flowers from admirers, although she's been deemed a diamond of the first water by the ton gentlemen, she has been unable to attract the attention of the earl.

So Miss Sinclair does what she does best--she concocts a scheme, a scheme that thoroughly ruins her reputation and compels Lord Reece to wed her.

She is shocked when the earl turns out to be a different sort of man than she supposed. With the ring scarcely on her finger, the earl marches her to his study and orders her to bend over his desk for a spanking as punishment for forcing him into marriage. When she refuses, he simply takes her over his knee, bares her bottom and spanks her until she obediently stretches out over his desk and submits to a spanking with his hairbrush.

It seems the earl has decided that, as he's had no choice but to marry the scheming Miss Sinclair, he is going to train her to become an obedient and docile wife. His methods involve applying his hand, his hairbrush, a willow switch, and a crop to his bride's lovely behind, while offering her tantalizing tastes of the pleasures a husband can bring to the body of a wife if she behaves.

Connect with Emma K. Gardner

Her Blog: A Good Spanking

Find her books on Amazon and B&N  

Twitter  @EmmaKGardner

Spanking Six Sentences

It's Sunday and you know what that means...writers from all corners of cyberspace are sharing Six Sentences from their work. You can find links to all of them here.

 

This week's Six Sentences are from Underwear Probation. I'll set the scene. Because she can't remember to follow the rules, Daisy's husband has decreed a day of Underwear Probation---no underwear---so that the feel of her bare butt against her skirt will remind her to follow the rules.

 

He stroked her ass. “And be careful how you sit.” His hand moved to stroke her pussy. “I don’t want anyone else to see what belongs to me.”

               

She knew she should be horrified at going to the office without any under-garments, but the possessive tone of Reece’s voice filled her with warmth.

Will Daisy survive her day without panties? There's only one way to find out...

Friday Funny---A Little Early

Friday can never get here soon enough, so I'm posting my Friday post tonight.

Imagine my surprise when watching re-runs of Two and a Half Men recently and I saw this.

I tried embedding the video here so you could watch without clicking to YouTube but I guess that was beyond my tech-know-how.

Enjoy!

Congratulations Minelle!

Minelle was the lucky commenter on yesterday's interview with April Vine. She'll be receiving a copy of April's new release The Toy Boy.

Way to go, Minelle! You've got a steamy read headed your way!

Writing Spanking Stories Wednesday: The Idea

Hi everyone and welcome to my new blog series on writing spanking stories.

Disclaimer (remember, I am a lawyer): There are as many different ways to write a story, spanking or otherwise, as there are people who write them. If some of the information I share is helpful to you, then please feel free to use it. And if it doesn’t work for you, that’s fine too. I just want to share a few posts on the process (more or less) that I use for some of my stories.

Writing Spanking Stories: The Idea

Once you start looking for story ideas, it seems like they are everywhere. And they can come from all kinds of sources: a song lyric that sticks in your head, a snippet of conversation that you overhear, something in the news or your own fantasy. The possibilities are endless.

Here are a couple examples.

I bought a spanking magazine and showed the pictures to my spanking mentor and said that I’d expected the women to have smaller butts. She said “A bigger butt can take more of a spanking.” That one comment got me thinking about the advantages of aging and having a butt that wasn’t small.

I thought about how a woman would feel about it (not so great) compared to how her husband might feel about it. And that turned into Mirror, Mirror/You’re Never Too Old for a Spanking. There are links to the two parts in the Free Spanking Stories tab.

Donna’s husband turned her gently to her side so that she could see her rear end in the mirror. Jake ran his right hand slowly over her flanks. “I suppose you think that this is too big, don’t you?”

“Y-yes.” Donna’s voice was a whisper.

“You don’t have any idea how much your rear end turns me on, do you?”

Donna’s eyes grew wide in disbelief. “I can’t believe that my large butt could be a turn on to anyone. Look at it.” She turned so that her backside faced the mirror and she looked at its reflection over her shoulder. “It’s huge.”

“Now you’re exaggerating.” Jake said. He turned her back to face the mirror and whispered in her ear, “Do you honestly think that some skinny little thing would be able to enjoy the spankings that I give you?”

Here’s another example:

A few months ago I read a tweet about a woman who was going to work without underwear because her dom told her to. The idea of going without underwear was so sexy and naughty that it got me thinking and Underwear Probation was born (after a grueling labor, I might add).

           “Tomorrow you will be on underwear probation.”

“What?”

“No underwear.”

“No, Reece, please.”

“You said yourself that if you’d been paying attention, you would have behaved better. I want the feel of your clothes on your bare ass to remind you all day long that I expect you to live up to my expectations of you and to behave like a lady.”

 Sometimes the idea starts with the characters. Other times it starts with an event or a location.

Here’s the important thing about ideas---not all of them are good ones. If you were ever a teenager, you may remember that some of your ideas back then weren’t winners. The same is true with writing, but the odds of you ending up with a mullet or leisure suit are greatly reduced.

How do you know if the idea is a good one? You have to tinker with it a bit.

With my current Work In Progress (WIP) I had an idea that I liked so I opened a new Word document and started a sort of stream of consciousness conversation with myself. It looked something like this:

What if there’s a woman who gets divorced and her husband is ordered to pay for her to get an education so she picks law school because it’s the most expensive but she’s only there to get back at him…ok, I like that idea, but do we want the ex husband to be around? Probably not. And do I want the story to last a whole three years? No.

Ok…what if she gets left an inheritance but in order to get the money, she has to complete a semester of law school. Now we’re getting somewhere.

Now, don’t think that every idea I tinker with turns into a winner. My hard drive is full of bits of stories that just never gelled. I bet some of the other writers out there will say the same thing. But, you can’t know until you try.

Jot down a few different ideas and then see which ones spark your imagination. Which one or two ideas are you still thinking about when you lay down to go to bed or when you wake up and which ones have you forgotten about? That’s a good way to get started.

So…what are some story ideas that you have or if you’ve written stories, where did some of the ideas come from?

Come back next Wednesday for another installment of Writing Spanking Stories Wednesday.  

Meet April Vine---Erotic Romance Writer

 

Hi Everyone!

I’m especially glad to introduce all of you to erotic romance author April Vine. Not only does April write hot erotic fiction, but she is also my critique partner.

For a writer, the critique partner relationship is almost like a sacred trust---you share your writing with them and trust them to give you feedback that is honest and helpful without bruising the fragile writer’s ego. April and I have only been working together for a couple months, so she didn’t have any input on Twenty One Days to a Better Attitude or Legal Briefs, but she had a major influence on Underwear Probation. If you’ve read Underwear Probation, you’ll notice that the heat level is much higher than in my prior works. You can thank April for that.

I’ve been bragging to April about the wonderful people who read my blog, so let’s give her a warm spanko welcome!

Celeste Jones: Of all the different genres you could write in, why did you choose erotic romance? Have you written in other genres before?

April Vine: Thank you so much for having me today, Celeste. I’m thrilled to be here and looking forward to meeting all the wonderful people who read your blog.

My first ever finished novel was a monstrous everything- in- it- and- the- kitchen-sink, eye-sore of an historical romance which should never see the light of day. So while I always knew I was going to be a romance writer from day one I just never imagined I’d be an erotic romance writer. I was quite surprised by how quickly I went from keep the bedroom door tightly shut to swinging it wide open for the world to see. I haven’t looked back though, so I must be in my element. Cues blush!

Celeste Jones: What do you consider to be some of the challenges of writing these types of stories?

April Vine: For me, I think everything in an erotic romance is harder to write…pun intended. Not only must there be an emotionally charged story with intricate characters and rounded plot, an erotic romance writer must weave in frequent, explicit sex scenes without it coming off as gratuitous and still carry the plot forward. And no two sex scenes should be alike, so yes, lots of inventive thinking required of an erotic romance writer.

Celeste Jones: Your books are pretty spicy. How do you keep the erotic level high without being too lurid?

April Vine: One word:  Emotion.  Without it, it’s just porn. My characters must have something at stake, some emotional string that pulls them together and apart and then together again.

Celeste Jones: Your latest book, The Toy Boy, is about a woman who gets involved with a younger man. She’s in her early 30s and he’s ten years younger. Do you consider this a Cougar story?

April Vine: I think the ten-year difference in their ages just borders the acceptable age difference for a cougar although my heroine, Cait is quite passive in the true sense of a cougar and it’s up to my hero, Declan to show her what’s she missing out on J [Be sure to check out the blurb and excerpt below. Leave a comment, including your email address, to be part of the drawing for a free copy! Please try not to drool over the cover photo.]

Celeste Jones: Do you have another book/s in the works? Can you tell us a bit about it/them?

April Vine: I have too many books in the works and too few finished, yes I’m a promiscuous writer, what can I say J But yes.  At the moment, I’m writing a story which contains BDSM elements and my second book in the Wanton Witches Series from Ellora’s Cave comes out on the 10^th October 2012.

Celeste Jones: What is your writing day like? Do you have a set schedule for writing?

April Vine: Oh, no! I start off every day with the intention of being a perfect writer – one who writes diligently and consistently each and every day. Alas I have a small attention span, am hopelessly counter influenced by anything and write in bursts rather than steadily.  I live in hope that I will change this process!

Celeste Jones: Are you a pantster or a plotter?

April Vine: I’m an incurable pantster, and because I go into projects blindly, I usually find myself falling down plot holes or banging into walls. I’m a sucker for punishment! 

Celeste Jones: Is April Vine a pen name? If so, who in your life knows about your career as a writer of erotic romance? Do you find it challenging to keep that part of your life a secret?

April Vine: April Vine is my pen name.  Except for hubby, no one else knows the real me and that’s all that matters to me. It is very challenging, though, keeping it a secret from extended family, but I prefer it like that, this way I have complete and utter creative license to write whatever I want without worrying if I’ll embarrass them.

 Celeste Jones: What tips or advice do you have for people who might be thinking about writing erotic romance?

April Vine: As with all writing, I think a passion for the art is required. For erotic romance writing in particular, you’ll never know if that’s your dream genre if you don’t try it. My first manuscript on submission, a contemporary with extremely mild sex scenes landed on the wrong editor’s desk and if that editor who only reviewed erotic romance hadn’t ask me to give it a go, I would never have discovered the erotic romance genre at all.  If you’re comfortable with writing explicit sex in anything but purple prose, give it a shot, you never know.

Celeste Jones: So, I’m sure the readers are dying to know…what’s the best thing about having me as a critique partner? [LOL]

April Vine:  Well, honestly it’s because you’re… perfect J Seriously, you’re all the major things I look for in a CP – smart, fast and efficient – what more can a girl want? You give great insight, you have a sharp eye for grammar and you’re totally fun to work with. I’m very lucky to have you! And if you haven’t yet read Underwear Probation, you so should – it’s beautiful!

Celeste Jones: What’s your guilty pleasure?

April Vine: Hubby…preferably covered in chocolate J

April Vine’s latest release, The Toy Boy is available on Amazon, All Romance and Liquid Silver

Lusting over her neighbor’s too-young-to-touch hot nephew while he mowed the lawn in the hot sun was one thing and bad for her sparkling reputation. Finding him in the same sex shop where she is purchasing artificial gratification to ease the sexual bother he evoked in the first place is quite another and forces thirty-four-year-old stickler for rules Cait Daniels to fly red-faced through the doors of Curious Coition without her paid for merchandize in hand.

Since he is staying with his aunt for a few days, twenty-four-year-old Declan Meyer wants to do the neighborly thing and return the orphaned sex toy to its rightful owner. Only in this case the rightful owner is the same woman he wants in his bed, his heart, and his life. He is not above holding the pleasure tool over her head and threatening her good standing in an attempt to show her the real thing with him, never mind his age.

Excerpt:

“Will that be all for you?” the cashier asked, her orange glazed smile wider than before. “Yes, thank you.” Cait dared not look her in the eye. She hadn’t come that far yet; instead she dallied with her purse while the cashier counted the cash and registered the sale. She wished she’d just give her the mock cock and forfeit the whole idea of popping it into a Curious Coition designed bag. She really just wanted to get the hell out of the place already, preferably armed with the selected merchandize secured in her handbag. A long bath later and maybe even candles, and then it’ll be just her and the dildo, eradicating any unhealthy thoughts she harbored about him that she couldn’t have.

“It’s one of our bestsellers. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.”

Could she work any slower?

“It’s a lovely day outside, isn’t it?” she continued. “I should tell you we have a no return policy, unfortunately, so if—”

“That’s fine. I…” Whatever else Cait meant to say died on her lips as the velvet curtains hanging from a rail behind the cashier parted. Her overworked heart ground to a dead-halt and manic nerves singed her skin. Her brain spun out of control, drowning her in disbelief. She resisted the urge to rub her eyes in case her vision felt prone to play cheap tricks on her now of all times. But no, he, the totally hot and completely off limits reason she found herself parading in a sex shop in broad daylight, was real, gorgeous, and instantly he recognized her.

His sexy thick-lashed gaze skimmed over the package dangling in midair from the cashier’s hand en route to the bag and then landed back to her. Scorching hot blood rose into her cheeks. He folded his arms and then rubbed the edge of his jaw with one of his hands as his sensuous lips curved into a killer smile. Sparkling, straight white teeth mocked her. She couldn’t look away, not when his overpowering height demanded she see nothing but him.

Amusement lined the gray of his irises as he relaxed against a tall cabinet next to him, enjoying her discomfort, and making no secret of it. This couldn’t be happening to her. Embarrassment of the kind she never experienced before dictated her next move. Flee, leaving behind her purchase in the cashier’s hands. Without a backward glance, she scurried out of the shop. She refused to question her juvenile antics as she dove into her car and started the ignition. The only sound louder than her resuscitated heart thudding inside her chest was the wheels of her car screeching in protest as she fled what she now called the crime scene.

Really? Of all the people in the world she could have met at a sex shop, did it have to be him? The core reason for her cranky mood, which sprouted from a lack of good old-fashioned fucking, revived by the mere sight of him. Eyeballing him from her window as he mowed the lawn was one thing, running into him at a sex shop and being caught red-handed soliciting artificial sexual favors quite another.

But when she’d woken up that morning from a night of dreaming about him, her wet and unsatisfied pussy dictated all her impulsive actions. She couldn’t bear another night feeling so sexually deprived. She wanted instant gratification, so got into her car, drove into town, and found a sex shop. Now she wished she had practiced a little more patience, bought the darn thing online, and waited however long it was for them to deliver it. Patience though was never the quality she held in high merit. Besides, if she wanted something done, she always did it herself.

The way things were going her way, her online purchased dildo would probably arrive at her doorstep in a van with a cock painted on the side, sirens wailing, and a police escort, and everyone in the neighborhood would know. She groaned. Dammit, she knew his aunt. And what was he doing in a shop like that anyway?

She ducked her head as she pulled into her driveway, hoping to never set eyes on either the aunt or the nephew ever again. Thoughts of relocating flitted through her brain. She slipped into her house, locked the door, drew the curtains, and paced the floor as she bit her nails. What a mess. How had everything gone so hopelessly wrong so utterly quickly?

She still remembered meeting him six years ago when he concluded his greeting by calling her Ms. Daniels and matching it with a cocky smile. She had smiled back at him then, amused by his misguided youth, and the seed of underdeveloped arrogance hovering beneath the surface. Now … now six years later at the age of twenty-four, he came in a different package altogether.

Don't forget--leave a comment with your email address in it for a chance to win a copy of The Toy Boy.

 Connect with April Vine

April Vine's Blog

Amazon Author Page 

Email: april.vine@yahoo.com 

April Vine's Facebook Page

Follow April Vine on Twitter   

Thank you April! I hope you'll all check out her blog and her books!