This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Adesanya, Jennifer Patricia O’Keeffe, Anarie Brady, Jae El Foster will be awarding a $25 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.
Strong Characters, in my opinion, lead the way to a good story. If readers can’t identify with or like the main characters, they won’t keep reading. In order for that to happen, the characters, especially the main ones, need to be dynamic and well rounded. There must be more to them than just a strong sex drive!
Because I write Erotica, BDSM in particular, there obviously must have lots of detailed sex scenes. No one wants to read erotica that leaves the bedroom door closed. That door needs to be left wide open. Okay, that door and every other door! Who says sex can only take place in the bedroom!
While some of what I write dances around Fantasy, the plots must still be believable. A woman trying to make her way in the world, a friend’s betrayal, discovering something shocking about your own past, working hard against the odds to make a living. These are all plots that most people can relate to regardless of the time period or locale.
Leaving some things to the imagination is all well and good, but each story needs lots and lots of details. Does the heroine have a scar across her back and shoulder? What happened? What does it look like? Does the hero have a secret he’s ashamed of? Is that a REAL Picasso hanging in a public restaurant? Does the whiskey have undertones of honey or vanilla? Details make a story come to life.
Because of the content of what I write, all of my main characters are adults who are well aware of and consenting to every act they partake in. There’s a Non-Con (Non consensual) genre out there that is fabulous, but I write strictly consensual. The taboos I delve into with BDSM are pretty standard – bondage, spanking, blindfolds, public display, that type of thing. I also make sure to give trigger warnings. I’ve been sexually assaulted and I would hate to have a reader suffer a flashback because of something in one of my stories.
Nonetheless, I like to push the boundaries of my characters just a bit. Perhaps the heroine is new to the idea of bondage and a bit frightened. Still, she is willing to try it in order to please her dominant. Also, for a long time f/f scenes were a no-no even while m/m scenes were being celebrated. I try to throw in a few f/f or poly scenes as long as they add to the plot even if such descriptions might make some readers a bit uncomfortable.
A romance anthology unlike any other, Queens of Hearts will seduce you, romance you, make you laugh, and make you afraid with four very different stories from four different, talented authors.
‘Regina’ by Adesanya
Her name is Queen by definition, and she wears her dreads – dreads she spent half of her life growing – atop her head as her crown. Her name is Regina, and as romance sweeps through the wintry air with promises of Saint Valentine and Cupid’s mighty arrow, she finds herself entangled with a handsome man who knows all the right things to say. As a love affair blooms and romance comes into full blossom, Regina and Clive seem like a match made in Heaven. But is Regina really the woman that Clive believes her to be, or will a dark secret put an end to their cold-weathered fling?‘All I Want is to be Happy’ by Jennifer Patricia O’Keeffe
Michael is feeling down over his life. He works two jobs, has four roommates, can’t afford a car, and he’s as single as they come. Worse yet, after winning the crown at a local drag competition, he begins comparing himself to his nemesis – Madame Vivian, whom he stole the crown from. Now, as a popular author and a missing wallet come into his life, Michael finds himself on a series of misadventures that will either help him see the silver lining of life or drive him further into his self-despair.‘On Bended Knee’ by Anarie Brady
As the Greek goddess of Springtime and the queen of the underworld, Kora divides her time equally between her husband, sweet and gentle Aides, god of Hades and her dominant, Grant, a.k.a. Grannus, Celtic god of salt water and spa. This arrangement suited all three of them perfectly for years. However, when Hecate, Kora’s handmaiden and supposed best friend decides she’d make a better paramour for Aides, things could change drastically for everyone.‘You Don’t Eat People You Love’ by Jae El Foster
An infection is spreading throughout the town, and it has made its way to the countryside where a party of high school seniors is underway. When the infection spreads through the party in a most savage way, Bethany and Tommy must flee for their lives before they too are either eaten like their friends or they become a part of the living dead. Will sheer determination and the love that bonds their teenage romance be enough to keep them alive, or will they face a fate that is much worse than death?
Enjoy an Excerpt from On Bended Knee by Anarie Brady
“So what are you going to do with yourself for the next six months?” Hecate had asked.
“I’m not sure. I have no doubt I’ll find something,” she’d answered lazily.
“I have a friend I think you’d really like.”
“Hecate. I’ve told you. I’m done with mortals. It’s simply too heartbreaking.”
“What do you mean? It’s not like you can’t meet up with a mortal’s shade once he’s here in the underworld.”
Kora laughed with derision. She loved Hecate dearly, but sometimes the woman’s lack of foresight maddened her. “Not for me, silly, for them. I can’t count the number of times I have broken a mortal’s heart when I leave him to return here.”
“Oh. Right,” Hecate said. “Well, that won’t be a problem with Grant. He’s a god.”
Kora raised herself to her elbows and stared at her friend. “Not a Greek god.”
“No. Celtic. His ancient name is Grannus and he’s a god of sunlight and healing waters.”
“Interesting. What’s he like?”
“Stern, actually. He takes healing quite seriously.”
“As well he should,” Kora acknowledged. She’d had her fill of gods who failed to devote enough time and effort to their realms. “And personally?”
Hecate sighed dreamily. “He’s a perfect specimen of a male. He’s all lightness. Blonde hair, blue eyes, skin the color of fresh cream.”
Kora laughed again. “Okay, so he’s handsome, but I meant what is he like in his personal life?”
“Oh. Well, he’s not all lightness there, which is why I’ve never hooked up with him. Not my style at all.”
“Meaning?”
“He likes to take charge, give orders, that type of thing. He’s definitely an Alpha male. Personally, I’m more of an Alpha female, so we just never clicked romantically.”
Now, Kora was intrigued.
About the Authors
ADESANYA:
Although born and raised in Chicago, Adesanya often draws inspiration for her writings from her Nigerian heritage. Her love for the written word developed at a young age, and today, she enjoys sharing her own stories with the world. Sometimes the tales are romantic. Sometimes they are frightening. Adesanya believes that these traits and more are what make up Life in all of its pain and glory, and no matter the genre she tackles, it is always Life that she is writing. Currently, Adesanya resides on the West Coast, USA. ‘Regina’ in Queens of Hearts is Adesanya’s first release with DCL Publications. She can be found online by following her on Twitter @theindieauthor or on her Facebook page www.facebook.com/adesanyaindieauthor.
JENNIFER PATRICIA O’KEEFFE:
Jennifer Patricia O’Keeffe is an author of romantic comedy and anything quirky. She resides in Tennessee, just outside of Nashville where she shares a home with her cats. Ms. O’Keeffe loves to make the world laugh and to find humor and love in the least likely of places. Readers may keep up with her and her writings by following @authorjpokeeffe on Twitter. She is currently working on her first full-length novel Runaway Heiress, and her short stories ‘We Made Snow Angels’ and ‘All I Want is to Be Happy’ can be found in the anthologies The Greatest Gift of All and Queens of Hearts, respectively.
ANARIE BRADY:
When not dreaming up steamy romance novels, Anarie Brady spends her time cooking delicious meals, sipping beautiful wines, and enjoying her time with her husband of over 30 years. She published her first novel, Conquest of a Fairy, in 2008 and hasn’t stopped writing since. Her novels are available at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. She’d love to hear from readers. You can find her at https://twitter.com/AnarieBrady or on Facebook, Instagram, and https://anariebrady.blog. Her recent DCL Publications releases include ‘As I Follow, So Shall I Lead’ in Kings & Queens and ‘On Bended Knee’ in Queens of Hearts.
JAE EL FOSTER:
Jae El Foster is an author with whom you question going to bed with at night, but you dare to venture beneath the sheets with him anyway. As the venture concludes, you are perhaps romanced by it, or perhaps you are frightened by it. Don’t worry because you are always satisfied by it. Despite the title or genre of the book, Jae El sets out to please you with climatic and unexpected conclusions that will make you tremble with emotion. Hop aboard the Jae El train and give it a good ride. Follow him on Twitter @jaeelbooks, ‘like’ him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/authorjaeelfoster and visit his website at www.jaeelbooks.com. ‘You Don’t Eat People You Love’ from Queens of Hearts is Jae El’s tenth release with DCL Publications.
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