This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Deborah A. Bailey will be awarding a $40 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Writing intimate scenes can be tricky at times. There’s something for everyone – from high heat to sweet. But each story should have scenes that are a fit for that type of story and the characters.
As I’m writing scenes for the novellas in my Worlds of Fire romantic fantasy series, I’m realizing that I can’t take a one-size-fits-all approach. Each story has its own mood, and the intimate scenes have to reflect that.
The scenes have to make sense in the context of the stories. Since each novella features a different couple, I had a different way of presenting those scenes.
In the first novella published, Blood Red Moon, the story is told in first person. Avani, the narrator, is expressing her feelings about being reunited with the hero, Derek. Her thoughts about his being a vampire (the Vampire Lord, actually) are front and center.
Avani describes her intimacy with Derek, and she describes what happens when he bites her. Since he is a vampire their love scenes are more intense. But at the same time, since it is first-person, I could only describe what she was experiencing –and her interpretation of what Derek was experiencing.
Metamorphosis is in third person POV and alternates between Asira and Jaydon. Their love story happens while a conspiracy is unfolding at their Alchemist university. They don’t have their first intimate scene until later in the story (for various reasons I won’t reveal because – spoilers!).
I wanted the scene to be romantic and sensual as opposed to intense. Jaydon is a bit of a nerd and Asira is just discovering what it is to be deeply in love. Their intimacy is playful and shows their way of interacting with each other.
Writing intimate scenes can be a big challenge for authors. Should there be a lot of detail? How soon should the “big moment” happen? I think it all depends on knowing your characters and understanding the purpose of the scenes. The most important thing is to make the actions (and the emotions) feel natural.
On the Floating World when two Alchemists fall in love it can be…complicated.
Asira is a member of a high-ranking family of Alchemists who exert control over the libraries that store magical texts. Jaydon, an unconventional but powerful teacher of transmutation at the university, is from a gargoyle shifter group known as the Gigun.
Asira finds Jaydon frustrating and too fascinating for her own good. But she desperately needs his help when she becomes the target of a classmate’s dangerous use of forbidden magic. With Jaydon’s assistance, the two of them uncover a conspiracy that threatens the well-ordered world of the Alchemists.
Struggling with his growing attraction to her, Jaydon is called on to use his knowledge of the magical Books of Fire to determine Asira’s fate. And depending on what secrets the books reveal, he may be forced to make a life-altering decision that will either bind them together… or permanently force them apart.
Enjoy an Excerpt
Jaydon picked up his stylus and shoved it behind his ear. Continuing to study her, his brows furrowed as though he was having an internal conversation. Thinking things over with himself and not sharing his conclusions with her.
Sure, she was used to intense stares from the magisters. They used them as an intimidation tactic. It was part of their mystery to be imperious and detached, to only associate with others on their level or from a specific Order. You were either in the Court hierarchy or you weren’t. Even the most advanced students didn’t have that kind of clout, no matter what Aurum family they belonged to.
“Are you sure you don’t want to see my papers on the topic?” Sitting there while he watched her was unnerving. Not that he was bad to look at, because he wasn’t. His features were finely sculpted, and his wavy shoulder-length black hair framed his face so that his almond-shaped eyes and full lips were accentuated.
He shook his head in response to her question, his gaze still fixed on her.
A noise outside caught her attention. There was chirping coming from the open sliding glass door that led to the balcony. Another perk of magister mentors. Private offices and balconies overlooking the spice gardens.
“Come in.”
A small yellow bird flew in and perched on a shelf above one of the desks. It chirped and then turned its head to study her. Another chirp, then a turn of the head to the left and to the right.
“What do you think?” he asked.
“Nice bird.”
“No, I was asking her.”
“You were what?” She looked at him, then at the bird again, then at him. “Does she talk?”
“Yes.”
“What does she say?” She would go along with it for now. She’d be done and then hopefully get picked by a mentor who was more serious and less messy.
About the Author:
Deborah A Bailey’s Romantic Fantasy, Science Fiction and Paranormal Romance novels include suspense, a bit of mystery and a lot of romantic heat.
Her short stories have won awards from the Philadelphia Writers’ Conference and have been published in US1 Magazine and the Sun and are included in, Electric Dreams: Seven Futuristic Tales.
Visit her site https://AuthorDebBailey.com for more information and subscribe to the newsletter here so you’ll be the first to find out about giveaways, book launches and sneak peeks.
Note: This book will be on sale for $1.99 during the tour.
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I’m a Rising Star. A boss. A Real One.
In the 1950s, America entered the television age. And Mickey Mantle, a country boy from Commerce, Oklahoma, was made for the moment. Signed by the New York Yankees as a teenager, he made his major league debut in 1951 as a right fielder alongside Joe DiMaggio. When DiMaggio retired at the end of the season, Mantle inherited not only Joltin’ Joe’s position in centerfield but also his stature as the face of the franchise. His boyish good looks, breathtaking power from both sides of the plate, and blazing speed on the basepaths made him an instant superstar. He won league MVP three times, came in second three times, was a 16-time All-Star, a Triple Crown winner in 1956, and a seven-time World Series champion.
In the twilight of his NFL career as a middle linebacker for the Chicago Storm, Mike “the Steelman” Stalowski masks his physical pain and mental anguish with alcohol and painkillers. The fan favorite has a rebel image and a notorious reputation, and he plays a violent gridiron game fueled by inner rage.
Richard Podkowski, a native of Chicago’s South Side, began writing fiction while studying criminal justice at Loyola University Chicago. 
After her friend Sandy Mangual tragically falls to his death, Bailey Cohen discovers images of his grisly corpse have been uploaded and shared through social media, by someone very close to her.
Hector Duarte, Jr. is a writer/educator out of Miami, Fl, where he lives with his wife, son, and cat. His fiction has been published widely online and in print, like the recent anthologies Pa Que Tu Lo Sepas: Stories to Benefit the People of Puerto Rico, and Shotgun Honey Presents Volume 4: Recoil. In September of 2018, Shotgun Honey Books published his full-length short story collection Desperate Times Call. He welcomes you to follow him on Twitter.
In a world vigorously chasing classic ideals of success, find your spark and become significant.
My job as mayor of the most Christmasy town South of the North Pole comes with enough perks to overlook the headaches of municipal leadership. Most of the time. The new owner of Candy Cane Key’s Community Playhouse is putting that theory to the test.
The Spirit of Harriet Tubman, who was called the Moses of her people, is rising again, and we can call forth her spirit to embody incredible strength and unwavering courage. Combining direct transmissions of Harriet’s message with insightful explorations of her life and legacy, this extraordinary book gives us support and inspiration to deepen our roots of resilience and become powerful conductors of love and truth in our own lives.
