Love and Sex in Romance Novels

The most common misconception about romance novels is that it's full of nothing but sex. True there could be a few hot and steamy scenes but romance novels are so much more then sex. When you are writing you romance novel be sure to have some kind of build up before your charters just "do it". You want the reader to feel the heat feel the emotions your characters are portraying.

In Love and Honor the first sex scene was built up from Sarah's insecurites. She had not been with a man in years and you could feel her fustration and frightfulness of her lust for this man. When you read the scene you can feel every touch every kiss that Max graces Sarah's body with. This is what the readers want. They want to feel as if it is happening to them.  Your not writing porn. You are writing about longing. Do you remember remember the feeling you had when you first lusted after someone. The first time you made love to this person you craved. This is the feeling you must capture in your writing. Words are powerful in love scenes..use them.

A slow week

Sometimes life gets in the way of our writing. Personally I've fallen into this slump. With my daughter starting fifth grade, working overtime all week, and bills piling up I've found myself struggling to find the time to write. Life can also pull you away from you ideas. I do try and write notes as the day goes by.  I do believe that is the best way to keep your ideas. You as the writer have to learn to delegate. For example today. I worked my overtime, I helped my daughter with her school work, cooked dinner and tucked her into bed. Now is the ME time. Time to write!

New Ideas

I think a good rule of thumb for any writer should be to carry a notebook and pen with them where ever you go. Personally I get creative and juicy ideas all day long. Problem is I don't have time to elaborate on them. It doesn't matter what I'm doing.  I could be people watching at lunch or talking to a good friend. The light bulb pops over my head like a old bugs bunny cartoon and I have to quickly search for my pen and pad. The best ideas come when your not thinking about it. Let your ideas flow like a river! If you have your thoughts written down you could always expand on them when you do have time. I personally will sit and come up with scenes that I feel would be great for a book. Out of those scenes I can build my story.

Try carrying around a notebook and pen. Keep a log of your ideas. This will be very benificial to you.

Love and Honor Summarized

He thought flying jet planes for the Air Force was dangerous, but it was nothing compared to the dangers of falling in love.
This is what Max Edwards tells himself in Love and Honor . A contemporary romance between a divorced mother whose life and love faces continuous threats from her abusive past, and the honorable Air Force pilot who struggles to protect her by her side and from abroad. The manuscript is complete at 89,000 words.
After escaping an abusive marriage, all Sarah Wilson wanted to do was focus on her career and her five year old daughter. Although the abuse stopped after the divorce, Sarah's ex-husband, Jeff, still wanted to control her life. Any hope of a new relationship was out of the question with Jeff still around. But when Sarah accidentally runs into a debonair Air Force pilot, spilling her hot coffee all over his uniform, it leaves her embarrassed and intrigued.

Lieutenant Colonel Max Edwards was a career military man. It wasn't until after his grandmother's death and his run-in with the beautifully clumsy Sarah that his priories changed and he craved a family rather than military life. After a whirlwind romance, one last top secret mission pulls Max halfway around the world and away from Sarah. With Max out of the picture, Jeff takes his queue, trying to manipulate and intimidate Sarah away from Max and back into his bed. What should have been a picture perfect love story has turned into a battle to keep the love alive.

Character Debate - To smoke or not to smoke

I ran across a dilemma as I started writing my new book. My main character I feel should be a smoker. It fits this character's personality as a bad boy with a good heart. I started to wonder with my main character being a smoker would that ruin the fantasy of him?

I've seen debates about condoms and weight but never about smoking.

My question to my readers out there is as followed.

If the main male character in a romance novel was a smoker would that ruin your fantasy of him?

Please email me or post your views.

DREAMING

This is something I wrote many years ago that I though I'd share. I started out as a poet and thought I should share some of my roots.

DREAMING
As I lay on my bed I gently close my eyes.
Entering a world of forbidden enchantment,
there you are!
This place is magic.
I don't have to love you just from afar
you are near me,you hold me in your arms.
Whispering to my soul,
setting my heart a blaze.
My body aches for your touch,
my lips long to devour yours.
So luscious...so succulent,
your kiss is simply intoxicating.
I can not resist your sweet rapture.
I surrender unto you all my earthly passions.
Burning...yearning... craving...
making love with you all through the night.
My heart then begins to ache.
I come to realize I must wake.

*** TEASER ALERT *****

Just a teaser from Love and Honor.

"Drunk on the sweet rapture of the kiss she bestowed on him, he was intoxicated by her essence. Drawing back from the kiss, he looked down at her. Her eyes glistened with a fiery passion. His hand brushed her cheek softly as he trailed his hand and eyes down to her bare chest. “You are so beautiful, Sarah,” he whispered breathlessly."

Acutally that first line is my favorite. I seem to always want to put that in my writings.

On to your next work of art!

After you've successfully finished your first book, your going to need to start you new book. Publisher will want more then just a one book deal. If you are like me you have many ideas on what to do next. Now you have to put pen to paper and start your whole creative process again.

For me since finishing Love and Honor I've had MANY ideas for a second book. One thing I'm noticing with my ideas. I was trying to mold myself into what other people expected me to write. I think this is why none of the other ideas have paned out. I'd get a a chapter in and then loose my idea.

What I'm working on now is something I'm passionate about. Call me a flake but I think I can make a romance out of the whole 2012 mysticism. Two people faced with surviving the end of the world, why can't they find love! ;)