***Exciting News! Bestselling romance author (and fellow
CNYRWer) Cari Quinn has a new release today! It's NO FLOWERS REQUIRED, Book 2
in the Required Love series from Entangled Books. It's sure to be another
bestseller, so be sure to get your copy right away!***
I'm at Cari's blog
today with a super sexy excerpt from Uncollared and a book and gift certificate
giveaway. All you have to do is stop by and tell us your favorite flavor of ice
cream! Two random winners will be selected. Please stop by!
***
Three Great Reference
Books for Romance Authors
Ugh. Just the thought of reference books makes one imagine
heavy, dusty, boring tomes. Well, today I want to share some books that are fun
and funny and of great help to anyone writing romance.
How To Write Hot Sex:
Tips From Multi-Published Erotic Romance Authors edited by Shoshanna Evers
This book is a great resource for anyone who's writing sexy
stories. The above mentioned Cari Quinn has a great little chapter on "Rx
for the Sagging Sex Scene".
Delphine Dryden gives advice on how to write BDSM themed stories and
Giselle Renard's contribution includes fetish and niche market sex. Male/male
romantic erotica is super popular now and Christine D'Abo contributes a chapter
on writing for that market. Finally, regardless of what you write, you need to
get it published! Editor Shoshanna Evers has been successful with well known
publishers as well as self-publishing and has much wisdom to offer. There are a
number of other topics addressed in the book as well. A very well-rounded collection.
Whip Me, Beat Me,
Make Me Write Hot Sex by Tymbor Dalton
This book deals specifically with BDSM themed romance and
erotica. The author is herself involved the BDSM community and knows whereof
she speaks. She gives a breakdown of the terminology used, activities and
important safeguards. She also addresses clichés and misunderstandings about BDSM.
In other words Dominant does not equal bossy jerk and submissive does not mean
doormat. One thing the author makes clear is that BDSM relationships are as
individual and unique as vanilla relationships. As long as everything is
"safe, sane and consensual", there is no one right way to do it, in
spite of what some Judgey McJudgersons might think. A tremendous resource
for anyone writing this genre.
The Virgin Widow's
Heart Stopped When She Saw The Book That Would Change Her Life Forever by Sophie
Gunn and Ellen Hartman
Oh God, this book is so funny. I'm not as familiar with
Sophie Gunn's work, but anyone who's read Ellen Hartman's books will recognize the
humor that makes her stories so much fun. The authors address the clichés that
so easily can creep into an author's work. Clichés make your writing boring and
generic, and rob it of individuality. The authors warn you away from the worst
(I cringe when I think how many have slipped by me) and brave souls that they
are, even include some bad examples from their own writing. The clichés don't
simply refer to phrases (such as "her heart stopped"), but to clichéd
characters (more cringing) and events in a story. Since reading it, I can't say
I've eliminated all clichés, but I've become a lot more aware of them.
I've found all these books enormously helpful, and highly
recommend them.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
Great resources. I've been in academia too damn long to think about reading reference books being anything but PAINFUL (and not in the good way) and I've got to say, these sound fantastic! I might actually have to go read one or two. Or even all three. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info Nona.