Monday, December 28, 2009

Quick Six Interview with AKM Miles

Quick Six Interview with AKM Miles

1. Would you be so kind as to tell us what type of stories you write?

AKMM: I write M/M Contemporary Romance

2. What are you reading right now?

AKMM: Between Friends: Trial by Fire by Sean Michael

3. I hear music in the background…what' s playing?

AKMM: Adam Lamberts CD: For Your Entertainment ( love Soaked)

4. Do you have a favourite naughty word?

AKMM: Nah, I like 'em all!

5. Is there a word or phrase that absolutely makes you cringe?

AKMM: cunt kinda bothers me

6. Be honest: What are you snacking on?

AKMM: Cherry Tomatoes from Farmers Market

Promo time! Flog your wares. Any exciting new releases? How can readers find out more about you and your work?

Take It EASY, novel, at Torquere Press came out 12-8

Tommy's Story: The Six of Pentacles at Torquere Press came out 12-12

http://www.torquere books.com/ index.php? manufacturers_ id=114&main_page=index my page at Torquere

http://www.total- e-bound.com/ authordetail. asp?A_ID= 89 my page at Total-E-Bound

The signature below tells how to find my work and info.


~AKM~
***love is love***
http://akmmiles.wordpress.com/
http://akmmiles.blogspot.com/
http://akmmiles.livejournal.com
http://www.facebook.com/akm.miles
http://bookworld.editme.com/akmmileshomepage
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2869347.AKM_Miles

Oh my! I'm completely out of breath here. Thanks for the quickie, AKM. See you again some time? Maybe? Or not...whatevs. I'm easy. *sigh* All these interviewees just love me and leave me... *tear*
(Like my lame attempt at a joke? I used to be funny. I don't know what happened...)
Thanks so much for the interview!
Cheers!
Giselle

Monday, December 21, 2009

Quick Six Interview with STEVIE WOODS


1. Hi Stevie. That is one good-looking cover you've got there. Want to start by telling us what type of stories you write?

SW: I write exclusively gay romance, in a variety of genres, historical, contemporary, fantasy, paranormal and SF

2. What are you reading right now?

SW: If All the Sand were Pearls by Pepper Espinosa

3. I hear music in the background…what's playing?

SW: I have a soft spot for boybands, Boyzone is on at moment.

4. Do you have a favourite naughty word?

SW: Very simple and straightforward - cock!

5. Is there a word or phrase that absolutely makes you cringe?

SW: Yep - manmeat

6. Be honest: What are you snacking on?

SW: Chocolate oat biscuits (a UK treat I think you might refer to as a cookie?)

Promo time! Flog your wares. Any exciting new releases? How can readers find out more about you and your work?

SW: I have a release due out next Monday, 21st December, from Phaze Books - it is actually a revised re-release of my historical novel, CANE, in both eBook and Print.
http://www.phaze.com

You can find out all about my various releases and what is coming up at my website. I have a few new releases slated for next year.
http://steviewoods.com

Monday Dec 21? Well good golly, that's today! Happy Release Day! I always feel like I should get cards in the mail and phone calls from my family on my release days. It's such a huge deal to me, and only other authors seem to be able to empathize. I wish you a very happy release day. Have a slice of cake and a glass of bubbly and enjoy your success!
Cheers,
Giselle

Monday, December 14, 2009

Quick Six Interview with Lara Zielinsky

1. Hi Lara! Would you be so kind as to tell us what type of stories you write?

LZ: I'm an author of lesbian and bisexual women's stories, mostly romances and erotica, though my current WIP is a murder mystery.

2. What are you reading right now?

LZ: I'm reading "Lilac Mines" a lesbian general fiction novel by Cheryl Klein, in order to review it for a couple sites and my radio show.

3. I hear music in the background…what's playing?

LZ: If you hear music in the background, it's TV. I don't usually get around to listening to music when I'm writing, but I will flip on the DVR and with half a mind catch up on weeks of taped shows, like "Frasier", and "The West Wing." If I am listening to music, it's a local radio station which airs a mix of 80s pop.

4. Do you have a favourite naughty word?

LZ: Cuss word: Shit. Yeah, I'm kinda vanilla when it comes to cursing. There are so many more creative ways to express one's pique.

If you're talking about body part naughties... I love the words pussy and balls. I like ass too. *g*

5. Is there a word or phrase that absolutely makes you cringe?

LZ: The c word for a woman. And the d word for a guy.

6. Be honest: What are you snacking on?

LZ: I make a mix of raisins and nuts that sits beside me at my computer desk. And I drink tea (hot preferred) while writing.

Promo time! Flog your wares. Any exciting new releases? How can readers find out more about you and your work?

LZ: If you love lesbian or bisexual women's fiction (or are a writer of same looking for a chance to be interviewed) visit my bi-weekly internet radio show "Readings in Lesbian & Bisexual Women's Fiction" at http://blogtalkradio.com/Lara-Zielinsky

My latest book release is "Turn for Home" (coming January 2010 from PD Publishing), and a collection I co-edited with Beth Wilde "To Love and To Cherish: an anthology of lesbian love and marriage" (coming February 2010 from loveyoudivine). My most recent previous release is a bisexual story in "Swing! Adventures in Swinging from Today's Top Erotica Writers" (2009; Logical Lust Publications).

My website is http://www.lzfiction.net/

-- Lara Zielinsky
http://www.lzfiction.net/
Host of "Readings in Lesbian & Bisexual Women's Fiction"
http://blogtalkradio.com/Lara-Zielinsky

...and I do love lesbian and bisexual erotica, so I will definitely be tuning in to your blogtalkradio station! Very excited about your antho with loveyoudivine as well! lyd Alterotica has been tremendously supportive of my work in transgender fiction. And the cover Anastasia Rabiyah made me for "A Mistress' Christmas" is about the sexiest damn thing I've ever seen!

I'm laughing at your mention of DVR recording Frasier. Around here, two back-to-back episodes of Frasier air from 3-4 o'clock in the morning. I just about became a vampire staying up to watch. It never once occurred to me that I might program the VCR to tape them. Stupid like a fox!

Thanks so much for the interview!
gigi

Giselle Renarde
Canada just got hotter!

Thursday, December 10, 2009

What's your Favourite Christmas Carol?

I always wait for my girlfriend the Official Christmas Fanatic to decorate the tree. Sweet surprised me with a visit yesterday and we went right at it. *ahem* Decorating. The tree. She threatened me with garland, but I drew the line at a wreath. There's only so much Christmas I can handle.

Anyway, I had the radio on and she said, "What? Where are the Christmas Carols? Put on a CD."

I have one lonely CD of Christmas songs. It's choral music. I like it. Sweet doesn't.

"You know what this reminds me of?" she said. "It reminds me of being in Church, bored stiff, and looking at my watch like, 'I'm going to be here for another hour and a half?' It's so serious!"

I have a feeling my stocking will be filled with cheesy Christmas CD's this year, but I still like my choral music. Got me wondering, though...

Which Christmas songs do people love most?

I've been mulling this question over in my mind since yesterday. The more I think about it, the more I realize there are quite at few carols I love to hear. "Carol of the Bells" has always been high on my list. "Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring" as well.



"S'vivon" is my clear-cut favourite Hanukkah song, but that's probably because I only know a few. Here's an amusing version I found on YouTube:



As for classic Christmas Carols...oh I really hate picking favourites...but I'm going to go with "O Holy Night." It wins out for the "fall on your knees" bit. Isn't that stunning, when you really picture it? Those words, "Fall on your knees/ Oh hear the angels' voices" give me an image of pure humility--a trait I sorely lack at times--in the the face of the universe's inconceivable beauty. It gives me a feeling of encountering a force so great it makes you feel at once like a spec of dust and facet of great spirit.



Last year, I made Sweet a lovely little video card, but since I have three holiday releases coming out this December, I made a book trailer instead. The unrecognizable carol in there is in fact, "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear." I just funkified it a touch.



But back to my original question: YOU! What is YOUR favourite Christmas Carol? Inquiring minds wish to know.

Do Share!
Bright Blessings,
Giselle Renarde

Monday, December 7, 2009

Quick Six Interview with Sarah Levin Colter

1. Hi Sarah! Thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions. First off, what type of stories you write?

SLC: I've written a little bit of everything. I have M/M, F/F and M/F.

2. What are you reading right now?

SLC: The Frankenstein trilogy by Dean Koontz

3. I hear music in the background…what's playing?

SLC: My grandson's video game. He likes Diablo II and Insane Aquarium.

4. Do you have a favourite naughty word?

SLC: Sometimes I like to overuse the word 'Twat' - not usually in reference to the body part, but as a name for certain people I've had to deal with - like my ex-daughter-in-law.

5. Is there a word or phrase that absolutely makes you cringe?

SLC: Not that I can think of at the moment. I'm not usually offended by words.

6. Be honest: What are you snacking on?

SLC: No snacks, but I've got a cup of Kalua Mudslide and whipped cream over chipped ice. Yum.

Promo time! Any exciting new releases? How can readers find out more about you and your work?

SLC: I've got several e-books for sale at Torquere Press, one so far at Shadowfire Press (more pending) and one by Unbranded Press. My website is http://sarahcolter.webs.com. :)

Mmm...Kalua...I'm jealous. I'm such a booze queen these days, and I just polished off my last bottle of wine. I think it's because I haven't seen Sweet in a while and I miss her desperately. It really is amazing how much you can start to rely on a person...and then when she's not around the world is a shade dimmer. *sigh*

Thanks for the interview!

gigi


Thursday, December 3, 2009

New Release: A Mistress' Christmas

And the award for "Sexiest Cover for a Christmas Story" goes to the sumptuous design Anastasia Rabiyah created for my first Holiday e-book of the season, A MISTRESS' CHRISTMAS! Isn't it gorgeous?

A stream of consciousness non-narrative flooded by erotic flashes, A MISTRESS' CHRISTMAS kicks off the season of high spirits in style. It's inspired in part by my love of theatre, in part by my experiences as mistress to a very academic and very married man, and in part by my quirky insecurities. This holiday darling explores some unique difficulties of the season.

If you’ve ever fallen in love with a married man, you know what feelings of defeat gift-giving elicits. You want to give him everything, but where would he put it? What can a mistress possibly give her lover at Christmas?

Blurb:

As a career-Mistress, Giselle knows very well how hard it is to find a good Christmas gift for a married man. She can't buy him anything meaningful—where would he put it? Besides, she isn’t even sure how much Winston really cares about her. He doesn't seem terribly invested in their relationship. Just when Giselle convinces herself finding him a gift of consequence isn't worth worrying about, Winston surprises her with a Christmas present both magnificent and heart-felt.

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-60054-319-7
lyd Category: Fairy Tales and Love Songs
Length: 6,573 words
Rating: Shooting Star
Formats Available: pdf, prc, lit, zipped html, lrf, epub
Cover Price: 2.00
_________________________
Without saying anything, without even appearing terribly interested, Winston sat down in his big, leather armchair. My lover was incredibly aloof at times, and perhaps I was drawn to that. It meant that every time he took a moment to focus his full attention on me, I felt as though I had accomplished a great feat. I always did appreciate a challenge.

I flicked the light switch, and the room became very dark. Mid-winter, Canadian nights begin even before the day is out. I made my way over to straddle him in his chair.

“Close the blinds,” he pre-empted.

Did it matter, with the lights already off, if the blinds were closed or not? But it was not for me to judge Winston’s desire for discretion. After all, I was not the married one. I closed the blinds and made my cautious return to him in pitch blackness. Leaning into Winston’s hard body, I kissed the aromatic softness of his left cheek, lingering close. His stoicism made me wild with desire. I kissed his right cheek, breathing heavily against his flesh, but he made no sound, no motion.

When I leaned in to kiss his lips, Winston caught my head in his hands. In a cavernous whisper, he told me, “You’ve left my office too many times with your lips raw and red. People will catch on.” It could easily have shattered my heart when he said, “I’m not going to kiss you today,” but it didn’t. It was incredibly arousing, knowing that in a moment Winston would flip me around and press my front against volumes and papers on his solid desk. With none of the caring preliminaries, he would toss my skirt up over my ass and fuck my pussy in absolute darkness.

_________________________________________________________________________


Let me tell you a Christmas story.

A MISTRESS' CHRISTMAS by Giselle Renarde is now available from lyd Alterotica!

Bright Blessings at the start of this holiday season,
Giselle Renarde

Monday, November 30, 2009

Quick Six Interview with G.R. Richards


1. Hi there! Would you be so kind as to tell us what type of stories you write?

GRR: Sometimes sweet, sometimes unapologetically hardcore guy-on-guy erotica. Always leaves readers sweating…and begging for more. But I’m a closet PBS documentary geek, so I’ll admit there’s an intellectual aspect to my work. I’ll admit that reluctantly. But my primary concern is turning readers on or giving ‘em a taste of romance. Or both.

2. What are you reading right now?

GRR: “How to Lose Friends and Alienate People” by Toby Young. Hilarious! I highly recommend it to anyone looking for the inside scoop on magazines, the fashion industry, and being a huge self-effacing asshole.

3. I hear music in the background…what’s playing?

GRR: White Stripes’ “Blue Orchid.” I like music with a good hard beat to it.

4. Do you have a favourite naughty word?

GRR: Deepthroat. Plow. Hole. Cocksucker. There are so many good ones. Do I really have to choose a favourite?

5. Is there a word or phrase that absolutely makes you cringe?

GRR: “Make Love.” Anything prettily euphemistic is a turn-off for me. Call a cock a cock. Call a fuck a fuck. That’s the way I like it.

6. Be honest: What are you snacking on?

GRR: I just ate half a bag of chips with dip. Then a Reese Peanut Butter Cup. What’s next? Maybe some beer nuts. I’m on a strictly-regimented diet, as you can plainly see.

Promo time! Flog your wares. Any exciting new releases? How can readers find out more about you and your work?

I’ve got two short stories coming out right….NOW! Both are holiday shorts, and both with Dreamspinner Press.

“Vintage Toys for Lucky Boys” comes out December 1st I think. It’s part of their “Mistletoe Madness” collection. If you’re looking for a sweet romance, “Vintage Toys” is your man.

Max the firm and fit muscle-god doesn't fit Randy's mental picture of an antiques dealer. In fact, he's so smoking-hot, Randy can hardly breathe as Max appraises his shoebox full of vintage toys. The huge amount of money Max offers takes his breath away yet again. All Randy wants is to buy his supportive mom a really great Christmas gift, and this windfall will sure do it. There's only one snag--but it's a huge one--and despite how friendly Max is, Randy's afraid it will be a deal-breaker.

The other, “Ivy League,” is way more hardcore, but still a nice holiday story. That one’s out December 2nd.

With his parents out of the country on winter holiday, Shiv invites biology lab-mate Devon to his house for a final exam cram. Of course, dinner and a study session aren't all he has in mind. The seduction seems almost too easy when Devon invites him to spend Christmas with his family. Will Shiv finally realize there's more to a relationship than just sex?

To get hold of these stories and get to know me better, see my website. It’s http://grrichards.webs.com/

It's funny you should mention PBS, because I happen to be uploading this interview to the blog during the pledge break from Dolly Parton's televised concert on PBS. Listening to her stunning voice brought two things to mind.

Firstly, can you imagine building an entire career on an instrument as fickle as the human voice? It's not a trumpet. If it breaks, you can't go out and buy another one. When you stop and think about it, it really is incredible that anyone can have such a long and prosperous career maintaining a voice with such a sparkling quality as Dolly Parton's.

The other thing you reminded me of, speaking of holiday releases and PBS, was the John Denver Christmas special. Do you remember that? I'm a little foggy, actually. I think there was more than one. Didn't he do a special with the Muppets? But there was another one that had the whole happy-family-around-the-fire feel to it. Does anybody know what I'm talking about? L'il help?

Thanks for the interview, Mr Richards! Much appreciated.
Cheers!
Giselle

Monday, November 23, 2009

Quick Six Interview with Rita Sawyer

1. Hi Rita! What type of stories you write?

RS: Contemporary romances (m/f) with heat and humor.

2. What are you reading right now?

RS: Actually I got a new Borders coupon yesterday so heading to bookstore later today. I'm in the mood for something Christmasy


3. I hear music in the background…what' s playing?

RS: Michael Buble
. His smooth voice mellows the mood, which is great when my charachters are getting... close.

4. Do you have a favourite naughty word?

RS: Not yet.


5. Is there a word or phrase that absolutely makes you cringe?

RS: Balls deep
(it's a guy thing). This does nothing for me at all.

6. Be honest: What are you snacking on?

RS: Wheat toast with peanut butter.


Promo time! Any exciting new releases? How can readers find out more
about you and your work?

RS: The first in my Brazen Sister series, A Brazen Love Worth Fighting For, was release on October 14th from http://www.SirenPublishing.com. And I have a Christmas novella, 8 Ways Onto The Naughty coming out with http://www.BladePublishing.org. Readers can find out more about me and my books at http://www.RitaSawyer.com.


Rita Sawyer
Giving You It All
Romance Passion Laughter

Michael Bublé--ahhh, a fellow Canadian! We Canadians are slowly taking over. And we're so polite about it, nobody's even noticing. Mwahahaha! Our plan is working perfectly...
*wink*
Thanks so much for the interview, Rita!
Cheers,
gigi

Saturday, November 21, 2009

An Impromptu Contest

I'm in the mood to give some stuff away. How about a contest for all you Twitterers?

How to win:

1) Follow me on Twitter. http://twitter.com/GiselleRenarde

2) Send me a quick email with the subject "I'm Following You" to gisellerenarde AT yahoo DOT com (the AT's an @ and the DOT's a .)

3) If and only if you're not on Twitter, tell me which Shadowfire Press anthology my work will appear in this December.

4) Winners will be selected at random from entries received by 11:59 p.m. EST on Sunday November 22nd 2009. Good luck everybody!


What's up for grabs? Free e-books! 1 delicious e-copy of "Love Bites" (a Torquere/BBA paranormal MMF anthology!), 1 e-copy of "Coming Together: Al Fresco" (an outdoor-themed erotic compilation).

I'm also giving away 2 copies of "Beneath the Ice," 2 of "Third Rail," and 2 advance copies of "A Mistress' Christmas" which won't be released until December 4th. These guys are all by me, Giselle Renarde, all e-books, and all published by lyd Alterotica.

It all starts here: http://twitter.com/GiselleRenarde

Hugs and Bright Blessings,
Giselle Renarde
Canada just got hotter!

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Transgender Day of Remembrance

Must remember. Can't forget. Must remember. Can't forget.As Transgender Awareness Week (November 15th-20th) comes to a close, we observe the 11th annual Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20th, 2009.

On TDOR, we remember all transgender people who have been killed by violent hate crimes. Monica Roberts of TransGriot says it best, so I'll let her tell you what it's all about.

Do I worry about violence against transgendered people? In a word, yes. As the partner of a wonderful trans woman, I worry on a very personal level. I know how badly it hurt my Sweet the time a MTF friend's ex-wife said to her, "You're not a real girl." I know how badly it hurt her when she took a newly-transitioning friend to a clothing store and the clerks whispered and giggled about the "cross-dressers."

It hurts my heart when Sweet tells me all the incidences of ignorance that have caused her emotional pain. I won't downplay the impact of those hurtful experiences, but I thank the powers that be nobody's ever laid a finger on my girl."It scares me," Sweet says, "if a man happens to be walking behind me in a parking lot. I'm always sure he's read me and he's gearing up to bash my face in."

If anyone ever hurt my babygirl physically...hurt her body, which I find so stunningly beautiful...

I'm crying now. I'm crying at the prospect of somebody harming my girlfriend because she lives out the gender identity she knows in her heart is her. I'm crying because there are hundreds--probably more than hundreds--of people out there who have a gap in their lives a trans person used to inhabit. They used to have a child or parent or uncle or aunt or friend or partner and now they have nothing. All because of transphobic hatred. All because of ignorance. Because of fear.

Fear. Ignorance. Hatred. Transphobia.

These are things we can overcome. I have faith we can. I have faith those who don't understand could understand. Even I have failed at being outspoken at key moments. I've lost transphobic friends who preferred to hate me along with my transgendered girlfriend rather than altering their viewpoints. This is not an easy battle we're fighting. But what can we do but persevere when our sisters and brothers are dying?
This Transgender Day of Remembrance, I'll also hold in my heart thoughts of hope for trans people who are suffering domestic abuse at the hands of parents or partners who don't understand them. It's an all-too-common story. Did you know a staggering percentage of street youth identify as LGBT, and have left their homes because of family and community violence? Yet another reason I'm donating profits from my book sales to LGBT Youthline, an organization that lends an open ear to LGB, transgender, genderqueer, and Two-Spirit youth.

November 20th, please take a moment to reflect on the loss of life the global transgender community has experienced. Please reflect on violence, hatred and transphobia. Imagine how you might help make your community a more trans-friendly place to live.

Must remember. Can't forget. Must remember. Can't forget.

Bright Blessings,
Giselle Renarde

Monday, November 16, 2009

Quick Six Interview with Jacqueline Applebee


1. Hi Jacqueline! Thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions. First off, what types of stories do you write?

JA: I write erotic romances. I write all flavours including Queer and Interracial.

2. What are you reading right now?

JA: I've just bought "Speaking sex to power" by Patrick Califa. I'm also reading "Gilgamesh" which is fantastic!

3. I hear music in the background…what's playing?

JA: Oh dear, it's the Fontanelles, playing 'Kiss-Kicker' which unfortunately sounds like 'Pig-Licker' I first heard it on the MST3K episode, 'Hobgoblins'

4. Do you have a favourite naughty word?

JA: Don't tell anyone, but I seem to say the word 'Bollocks to that!' an awful lot. My work mates are not impressed...

5. Is there a word or phrase that absolutely makes you cringe?

JA: "Girl Power." Calling a grown woman a girl is not empowering in any way.

6. Be honest: What are you snacking on?

JA: Apple pie and orange juice. Not very exciting, but I feel a cold coming on, so I'm in need of lots of Vitamin C

7. Promo time! Any exciting new releases? How can readers find out more about you and your work?

JA: "Battle Cry: Sweet Pet 2" will be released with Shadowfire Press on 20th November. To find out more about my work, please pop by my website at http://www.writing-in-shadows.co.uk There are plenty of stories to read, with something for everyone!

Jacqueline Applebee
http://www.writing-in-shadows.co.uk
Breaking down barriers with smut.

Yes, "Girl Power" has a tad too much of a Spice Girls tinge to it to be in any way appealing to me. I don't much appreciate being called a "girl," much less a "lady." I'm a semi-butch bitch. There's nothing ladylike about me. I'd rather be addressed as a "woman" or a "person" or, better yet, a "radical feminist." Lady? Hardly.
Thanks for the interview!
Cheers,
gigi

Thursday, November 12, 2009

I just write about what I should have done...

Today, I fail.

So, you know how I'm an "ally-advocate of the transgender community"? Today I fell flat.

Last week I mentioned I'm doing some warehouse work at the moment. The atmosphere is pretty blue-collar. It's fun. It's physical. I like it. Today I was in the break room when I heard some faint mention of surgeries. Somebody was talking about a newspaper article they were reading. I couldn't really hear.

What I did hear was the matronly receptionist say, "If God wanted him to be a woman, God would have made him a woman."

Wow! Trans advocates thrive on statements like that. What a great opening! Like throwing open a huge, heavy door leading into a world the warehouse never enters. I should have been enthralled.

My job as an ally-advocate was clear: I should have engaged the receptionist and other workers in an enlightened conversation on what it means to be a transwoman--how she feels about herself internally, how she must feel about her body to undergo multiple surgeries. I share my opinions. They share theirs. A dynamic exchange. We learn from each other.

That's not how it went down.

Instead of doing my duty as an advocate by saying something, I failed myself and the community by saying nothing. I could offer a hundred rationalizations, but it's not worth my time in writing out excuses or your time in reading them. I'm also going to try very hard not to beat myself up about it. I failed. We all do at some time or other. I'll learn from my inaction. I hope.

But I never finished my story, did I? As this matronly receptionist expressed her opinion regarding God and SRS, she walked by me. I must have reacted. Somehow. It must have been in my face. In my furtive glance in her direction. The rush of colour to my cheeks. I didn't agree.

The receptionist followed up her initial statement with, "Well, that's just how I see it. I could be wrong. What do I know?" Then she made me a cup of tea.

I'm reminded of ani difranco lyrics. How typically lesbian, am I right?
i just write about
what i should have done
i just sing
what i wish i could say
and hope somewhere
some woman hears my music
and it helps her through her day

~ani difranco
from "i'm no heroine"


And, all you fellow failing, flailing, and soaring advocates out there, I welcome your input. How would you have responded to this scenario? This is not a test. *smile* We learn from each other.

Much love (after a ten and a half hour shift!),
Giselle Renarde

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Quick Six Interview with R. ANN SIRACUSA

1. Hi Ann! Would you be so kind as to tell us what type of stories you write?

RAS: I write in several different genres, but currently I’ve been writing a humorous romantic suspense series featuring a tour guide and a Europol spy. I’m particularly comfortable in this first person voice.

My books tend to be long (90,000 words +), and since world travel is one of my passions, I set most of my novels in the exotic foreign lands that I’ve visited. The plots are complex and filled with action and adventure, culture and setting, and, of course, romance.

2. What are you reading right now?

RAS: I try to read books in the genre I’m writing at the moment. Right now, I’m reading Dick Francis’ “Even Money” and Katie MacAilaster’s “Corset Diaries.” If I could emulate any authors, dead or alive, I’d like to be a combination of Dick Francis and Katie MacAilaster, with a little Janet Evanovich thrown in (and maybe C.J.Cherryh…and, well, there’s lots of others). The highlight (so far) of my short career was when a reviewer compared my tour guide character (Harriet Ruby) to MacAlister’s Aisling Grey.

3. I hear music in the background…what’s playing?

RAS: I’m very eclectic when it comes to music. I like everything. You might be hearing The Brothers Four, Andrea Bocelli, opera, Red Peters, Neil Diamond, Kids Bop, Linkin Park, or Cold Play. What I listen to depends on the time, place, and mood. It also relates to what I’m writing, which grandchildren are in the house, or if my Italian husband is watching Italian TV.

4. Do you have a favourite naughty word?

RAS: Favourite? Not really. In speech, I use most of them regularly, even when I shouldn’t (a bad habit I’ve acquired since I retired). In my writing, it depends on the character and the type of book.

5. Is there a word or phrase that absolutely makes you cringe?

RAS: I’ve never really thought about it. I’m sure there are words and phrases I dislike when I read/hear them, and those I avoid when writing. Others I know I overuse to death. I don’t like the word “visitation” for some reason, and I’m not entralled with euphemisms like “his manhood.” A writer doesn’t have to be crude or offensive to use “real” words, but sometimes those get changed in the editing.

6. Be honest: What are you snacking on?

RAS: Gulp! Sputter! Unfortunately, everything that’s bad for me. Ice Cream is my favourite comfort food, and my downfall. My husband does all the cooking and shopping (bless his soul) so I munch on what he chooses to buy. (I have to bribe him into buying the ice cream.)

7. Anything to Promo?

RAS: Woot! Woot! Happy Dance! Sapphire Blue Publishing is releasing the second book of my tour guide/spy series in a few weeks, entitled “ALL FOR A FIST FULL OF ASHES.”

My first e-Book published by Sapphire Blue Publishing, “ALL FOR A DEAD MAN’S LEG,” came out March, 2009, and is the first of a four-book humorous romantic suspense series featuring a tour director, Harriet Ruby, and a Europol spy, Will Talbot. They meet while she is conducting her first solo tour in Spain and Morocco, and together they pursue great sex, a dead man’s secret, and international smugglers.

The second e-Book, entitled “ALL FOR A FIST FULL OF ASHES,” is being released at the end of October. Harriet and Will have been dating for a year, and come together in Italy where she is conducting a private tour for fourteen members of an Italian-American family. Will has one of the family members under surveillance as a suspect in an assassination conspiracy. Travel with them on their fast-paced romantic romp through Italy in pursuit of a lost grave, an assassin, and a healing and once-in-a-lifetime love.

Find out about me and my work at my website: http://www.rannsiracusa.com
You can also Google me (R. Ann Siracusa, R.A.Siracusa, Rose Ann Siracusa) or find me on Myspace, Facebook, FiledBy, LinkedIn, EPAN, Writers/Readers of Distinctive Fiction (but mostly as a “lurker” on all of them).

Thanks. It’s been fun meeting you.
Ann

Hahaha...Italian TV. I regularly fall asleep on the couch and wake up listening to the Italian news. Not that I mind. I usually get the gist of it, especially with the captions on. It helps me polish my long-forgotten skills from the single Italian course I took in University. ("Skills"? Wrong word. I was never that skillful a speaker of the language. I'm good with French and English. That's about it.)

“ALL FOR A FIST FULL OF ASHES” and “ALL FOR A DEAD MAN’S LEG” sound great! Thanks for telling us a bit about them. And thank you so much for the interview!

Cheers,
Giselle Renarde

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Why my Girlfriend Won’t Wear an Apron

Why my Girlfriend Won’t Wear an Apron
or
Am I a Female Chauvinist Pig?

My Sweet and I are recovering from another little spat. I’m doing a bit of warehouse contract work at the moment, and yesterday a young woman there asked my age. She followed up my response with, “Oh my god, you are so old! Are you married?” Umm…no. “Oh my god, you’re not married? Oh my god, but you’re so old!”

Nice.

The young woman walked away, and another woman I work with turned to me and said, “What a rude girl! To ask your age, and if you’re married. Very rude.” Of course, I came home and mentioned all this to Sweet, assuming she’d agree with me.

She didn’t.

“I don’t understand you,” she said. “You claim to be a feminist, but here you’re holding on to outdated, chauvinistic beliefs that it’s rude to ask a woman’s age. She wasn’t being rude. She was asking straightforward questions. What’s wrong with that? You’re being juvenile and anti-feminist.”

Juvenile and Anti-Feminist? Them’s fighting words! And Sweet knows very well the reaction they provoke. She knows, if there’s one way to get my dander up, it’s to question my commitment to feminism. I was pissed. Not because Sweet disagreed with me, but because...well, okay, maybe a little bit because she disagreed with me.

I don't just call myself a radical feminist, I live that way. I’m a vocal proponent of equal rights for all. I’m rude, my mother says. She means outspoken. I don’t let things sit. When I see injustice or hear people say things that denigrate women or any other marginalized group, I say something about it.

That’s why it was such a kick in the gut for Sweet to call me anti-feminist. How dare she? But then I started thinking about one of the few fantasies I have involving Sweet that she won’t go along with: I would love to watch her cook me a steak dressed in the full June Cleaver get-up—pearls and heels and vintage housedress.

So, the question remains. Am I a Female Chauvinist Pig? I mean, I can see why Sweet might find that demeaning, but that’s not even the reason she won’t do it. For her, as a trans woman, it would feel too much like Fetish Dressing. Psychologically, she has a very strong need to separate herself from the mentality and culture of cross-dressing. She wants to be seen as a woman like any other. So, “dressing up” to satisfy any fantasy of mine—particularly in the sexual realm—is completely out of the question. And that’s fine. I understand. No June Cleaver for Giselle. I’ll live.

But my primary concern still remains. What the hell is with this retro housewife fantasy? I know I’m a feminist. And I won’t say that women or lesbians can’t be chauvinist pigs, because we certainly can—and many do—belittle other women. But I know I don’t degrade my partner. She’s awesome. Sure she whines every time she breaks a nail, but that doesn’t mean she backs away from the power tools. She can cook and do electrical work. I love that.

I think we all want to come home to a partner who understands the aggravations of the workday, who realizes our feet are aching from standing for eight hours straight, and, more than anything else, understands that we need to fell heard. I don’t need Sweet to fix me a martini and rub my feet—though, honestly, I wouldn’t say no to either—but I do have a need to hear those two magic words, “I understand.” It bothered me that she couldn’t just give me a big hug and say, “I can see that all those questions irritated you. I’m sorry you had a rough day.” Really, that sentiment is far more valuable than pearls and apron strings.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Quick Six Interview with Scott M. Baker

Quick Six Interview with Scott M. Baker

1. Hi Scott! What type of stories you write?

SMB: Horror/urban fantasy, with an emphasis on vampires and zombies.

2. What are you reading right now?

SMB: Dead Worlds: Volume 3

3. I hear music in the background…what' s playing?

SMB: Country/Western

4. Do you have a favourite naughty word?

SMB: Fuck, yeah.

5. Is there a word or phrase that absolutely makes you cringe?

SMB: When management says "Consider this an opportunity to grow."

6. Be honest: What are you snacking on?

SMB: M&Ms


hahaha...yeah, "opportunities to grow" suck ass!
Thanks for the interview,
gigi

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Lesbian Vampire Knife Play, Anyone?

Hi Kittens!

Oysters & Chocolate recently held a contest called "Vampire Lust." Guess what? My F/F story "Blood Lust" received an Honorable Mention! Pretty good, considering I'd never written anything vampire-related before. In fact, I wasn't even thinking of entering the contest until...

Okay, so you know that conversation you inevitably have with your partner where you ask, "Is there anything you would NEVER do in bed?" I asked my girlfriend one day. You know what she said? "I would never let you cut me."

I kind of did a double-take...like...cut you?

"With a knife," she clarified. "Or anything else."

I just laughed, because I would never in a million years have conceived of cutting her. It's funny how someone can introduce you to an idea that's totally outside your sexual schema and make it appealing in NOT wanting to do it. Hey, we all want what we can't have. Am I right, people?

Of course, once the idea was planted in my mind...well...wicked seeds soon burst into wicked blossoms. Luckily for my Sweet, my blossoms tend to grow in story form. Thus, "Blood Lust" came into existence.

Ah, sacred pen. Isn't it nice to have an outlet for all the ridiculous things our sweethearts won't let us try?

By the way, you can read my lesbian vampire cutting story absolutely free at Oysters and Chocolate .

Hugs,
Giselle Renarde
Canada just got hotter!

Monday, October 26, 2009

Quick Six Interview with Nancy J. Parra

Quick Six Interview with Nancy J. Parra


1. Hi Nancy! Would you be so kind as to tell us what type of stories you write?

NJP: I write western historical romances and more recently romantic suspense.

2. What are you reading right now?

NJP: According to Jane by Marilyn Brant (her debut novel)

3. I hear music in the background…what' s playing?

NJP: Rob Thomas's Cradle Song

4. Do you have a favourite naughty word?

NJP: oh, boy my heros are the naughty word guys- I stick to "fudge."

5. Is there a word or phrase that absolutely makes you cringe?

NJP: yikes, lol- romance cliches like: "her womb quivered with delight."

6. Be honest: What are you snacking on?

NJP: dry roasted peanuts mixed with chocolate chips...

Nancy J. Parra
Visit me at www.nancyjparra.com
Read my latest book, MR. CHARMING, available now from The Wild Rose Press
Reviews available on my website.

I guess I haven't read enough romance, because I've never heard of anybody's womb quivering with delight. With labour pains, maybe... Womb. That's hilarious.

I love your cover for "Mr. Charming"--reminds me of an old Cary Grant movie poster. Now he was charming! To quote Pepe Le Pew (another charmer), "Le sigh!"

Thanks for the interview, Nancy!
Bright Blessings,
Giselle Renarde
Canada just got hotter!

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Third Rail: Authentic Transgender Erotica at Last!

It is with great pleasure that I announce a new entity in the world of erotica.

TransFixation (TransFix for short) is a new line of erotic fiction from lyd Alterotica featuring authentic portrayals of transgender characters. And the first story available in the TransFix line?

Why, that would be my bisexual transgender bdsm tale THIRD RAIL.

THIRD RAIL has always held a special place in my heart for its sheer authenticity, so when I was discussion the topic of realistic portrayals of the bdsm world with loveyoudivine's editor in chief, it suddenly occurred to us both: lyd Alterotica needed a line devoted to authentic portrayals of trans characters.

You've heard this complaint from me many times in the past. All the trans folks I talk to (my girlfriend included) tell me they can't stand all the shemale/t-girl/ladyboy erotica on the market. It doesn't speak to them. Erotica depicting transgender characters doesn't represent them, their feelings, or their sexual behaviours accurately.

It takes a trans man or trans woman (or a sensitive ally-advocate partner/erotic fiction writer...) to step up and write what this potentially beautiful and incredibly hot kind of eroticism really looks. This isn't laa-dee-daa fantasy time. It's hot. It's emotional. It's gritty. It's real.

THIRD RAIL
by Giselle Renarde

"When did I become my own rival for your affections?"

Perhaps it is a touch unusual to have a girlfriend and boyfriend both living in the same body, but Kokoro doesn’t classify her relationship with Fiona and Martin as strange. Kokoro rides the third rail, a dutifully subservient lover to both aspects of her transgendered partner’s psyche. She goes home with Fiona at night, a transformation takes place, and she leaves the house with Martin the next morning. In between, Kokoro discovers that the dynamics of domination and submission aren’t necessarily rooted in black leather. The emotional interplay, “this game of wills,” as Fiona calls it, is a greater aphrodisiac than toy-shop trappings. Fiona is a willful Domme, even in her flowing white skirt and plain cotton panties.

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-60054-403-3
lyd Category: TransFix
Length: 62 pdf Pages /6843 words
Rating: Super Nova
Formats Available: pdf, prc, lit, zipped html, lrf, epub
Cover Price: $2.00

_____________________________

Excerpt:

“Come on, let’s say goodnight to Fiona,” Fiona said, shifting Kokoro from her lap and heading for the stairs. She extended her hand, but still Kokoro stayed planted in the kitchen. “Why aren’t you coming? You really think I’m going to let you sleep on the floor?”

“No, it’s not that,” Kokoro replied, cuddling into the chair abandoned by her beautiful Domme.
“What then?”
“I just hate saying goodbye.”

With a tender smile, Fiona ambled across the kitchen. Kokoro observed their blue-tinged reflections in the glass door as her sensitive lover kissed her hair and consoled, “I hate saying goodbye to Fiona, too, but I can’t very well wear the wig to bed, now can I? And, anyway, even after Fiona’s gone, you’ve still got Martin to play with.”
“Yeah…” Kokoro smirked, scrunching her nose in a deliberate effort to appear snide. “Not really the same, is it?”
Fiona shook her head, slipping the gold bracelet from her wrist. “When did I become my own rival for your affections?”

“It’s all your fault. You’re the one who introduced yourselves to me.”


The bedroom had been tidied to a certain degree, though clothing still hung from the hooks behind the door. The jewellery strewn across her dressing table elicited visions of Ali Baba’s cave: gold and gold, and then some more gold on top of that when Fiona removed her earrings.

“I’ve never once seen your boy clothes when I’ve been here,” Kokoro realized.
Fiona shrugged, tilting her head. “I don’t like to look at them unless I have to.”
“Like you’ll have to tomorrow morning when you get ready for work?”
Shuddering, Fiona moaned, “Don’t remind me.” A winged insect of some sort abducted her gaze, and she focused on it for a long while.

Kokoro let her bra and panties fall to the floor, slipping into the silk chemise she’d brought along, all while Fiona watched the flying creature buzz desperately along the line where the bedroom wall met the ceiling. The night air was chilly. Kokoro slipped into Nuala’s side of the bed.

“I could close my eyes, if you’d prefer,” Kokoro offered, breaking Fiona’s concentration.
“What do you mean?”
“While you change. I don’t have to watch if you don’t want me to.”
“If I didn’t want you to see, you wouldn’t be here.”
Kokoro sighed. “You make everything so difficult.”

With a shrug, Fiona giggled, “That’s my prerogative. Every good girlfriend knows how to make things difficult for her partner. Now, then, are we ready for the wig to come off?”

Absorbing the image of beautiful Fiona, the preferred aspect of this duo, Kokoro nodded, and the wig returned to its home in the closet. Martin tussled his tawny hair, but it still stuck straight up. He unbuttoned the white shirt and squirmed out of his long skirt, hanging both on the back of the bedroom door. The bra was white. The panties were, too. A vicious Domme in basic white undies? But for Fiona, somehow it worked.

Kokoro didn’t need to follow her into the bathroom; she could see Fiona’s reflection in the mirror on the dressing table. It was Martin who rubbed out Fiona with makeup pads, Martin who removed the shimmer from her lips and around her eyes, Martin who scrubbed away her existence with apricot exfoliant. And yet, how can I resent Martin when, truly, he and Fiona were one and the same? Without Martin, there would be no Fiona. Without Fiona, there would be no Martin. It worked both ways.

“Feel how warm these get,” Martin glowed, handing her two heavy-duty water balloons that, seconds ago, had been breasts.

“Oh yeah…” Kokoro replied, watching Martin slip off one then another pair of big white underpants.
“Do you really have to wear granny panties? They are so unattractive. Would it kill you to buy a little lace, a few thongs?”

Naked before her, Martin raised an eyebrow. “Takes a lot more than a thong to keep this thing in check,” he replied. “Besides, who wants something crammed up her backside all day?”

Now it was Kokoro’s turn to raise an eyebrow. “I’m guessing we’re still talking about thongs?”
“Yes, Koko,” Martin scolded as he fished through his drawer of silky nighties, settling on the pink one. “Why? What would you prefer to have crammed up your backside?”

“I don’t know,” Kokoro gurgled. “Weren’t you just saying you needed some place to conceal your cock?”
Martin growled deep in his throat as he turned off the light. Crawling on top of the covers in the pitch-blackness, he was on top of her in no time. He found her intuitively, found her mouth with his as she ran her hands across his silk-lined back, sighing at the luxury.

The boy was back in town.

Sure, he was wearing a nightie, but the pure passion of the masculine aspect was back in full force. His hands caressed her cheeks, ran madly through her hair, and his lust ignited that which had ebbed in her. Kokoro moaned at the kisses of his mouth, glad for the darkness. Fiona was so much prettier, but she’d been put in the cupboard.

“Do you know how hot you get me, Koko?” he whispered, his breath sizzling in her ear.
Martin’s voice was not Fiona’s. There was an overlap, but it was not the same. This voice had depth and a resonance that brewed lust in her core.

“So hot, Koko. You get me so hot.”

And he wasn’t lying. His cock was hard as he rubbed it against her mound. Even with two layers of silk, a sheet and a coverlet between them, he knew precisely where to stroke.


You know you want it...
Third Rail by Giselle Renarde is Now Available from lyd Alterotica
(Note: scroll to the bottom of the page and click "Enter")

Bright Blessings,
gigi

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Blog Action Day 2009: Penguins in a Dangerous Time

Hello Planet-Lovers!

For the second year running, I’m taking part in Blog Action Day. The topic for 2009 is climate change. As an environmentalist, how could I say no? Instead of getting all preachy (which I’ve been known to do at times, I know) I’ve decided to share a sweet story of romance…between penguins. Remember, though: these penguins are living in a time of rising temperatures and disappearing sea ice. In other words, not every romance has a happy ending.



Penguins in a Dangerous Time

By Giselle Renarde


“Tell me,” Megan cooed, nuzzling her beak into the down of Andy’s chest. “Please?”

Running his beak along the side of hers, he teased, “What, you can’t wait until tomorrow?”

“No,” she pouted. Megan cuddled her head against his neck. She really knew how to work the male of the species. “What did you get me?” she pleaded. “Come on, cutie. Give it to me now.”

He cocked his head. “Give it to you now?” he asked in his most seductive tone. Running the tip of his beak up the side of her head, he paused before tracing the line separating black from white. She was without a doubt the prettiest penguin he’d ever seen. “You want me to give it to you, huh?”

As Megan gazed into his eyes, she felt giddy. She was half tempted to let him stand on her back then and there. He was definitely cuter than any of the other penguins around. Still, she giggled at his cheap come-on. “Yeah,” she replied. Andy thought he was such a Lothario. “I want it real bad…”

“You want what real bad?” he asked, snuggling in close.

You want to know what I want?” she flirted, pressing her front against his. With a quick love bite to his shoulder, she squealed, “I want my surprise!”

Andy stepped back. He couldn’t say no to her. Even so, he asked, “Are you sure you don’t want to wait for the special day?”

A though suddenly sparked in her mind. “Oh, I know what it is,” she cried. “You’re taking me across the ridge, aren’t you?”

When Andy’s expression fell, she knew she was on to something. “I’m right!” She shrieked, flapping her fins. She’d dreamed of this day from the time she was just a chick. “You’re taking me across the ridge!”

“It was supposed to be a surprise,” he said, somewhat disappointed she’d guessed it so quickly.

“Let’s go now,” she urged, pushing him north.

The idea hadn’t occurred to him. His mind was set on leaving tomorrow. “You mean we should and not tell anyone?”

“They won’t miss us for one night,” she replied, pressing on. “And we’ll meet up with all the other couples tomorrow. No biggie. This way, we’ll have the place all to ourselves.”

His mouth just about fell open at the prospect. How could he possibly resist the temptation of a night alone? How could he refuse Megan when her eyes sparkled in the sunlight? “Well?” he teased. “What are you waiting for? Let’s blow this icicle stand.”

They sighed with their shared secret. When he was younger, Andy would never have imagined himself heading across the ridge before the big day. A lot of penguins looked down on that sort of thing. But Megan was worth it. He would give her anything. He was just about to tell her so when the ice shook so badly they fell on top of each other. They were too scared to laugh.

Megan looked up at Andy, her eyes wide with alarm. “What was that?”

“I don’t know,” he said. He had a suspicion, but didn’t want to frighten her before he knew for sure. “You stay here. I’ll check it…”

Just as he rose upright, the ice shook again. Andy fell back down on Megan. Still, they couldn’t find any amusement in their close contact. Maybe, in their hearts, they both knew what was really happening.

The ice continued to rumble so badly they couldn’t get up. They shouted questions at each other, clinging together, but the thunderous roar was too loud to overcome. All they could do was wait it out.

When the rumbling stopped, they both stood to look around. One every side they saw ice, ice, more ice, and then ocean. Neither wanted to acknowledge what was happening, but now they were both sure of it. They were floating. As they stood there, turning in circles in hopes of finding some spot where the ice was attached to ice and not ocean, faith dwindled to nothing.

“I guess we won’t be getting to the ridge now,” Megan said, trying to make light of it all. Right away, she hated herself for making the joke. The situation was dire. They were trapped on an ice float.

“Maybe if we waddle really fast,” Andy suggested. “Maybe if we try, we can make it.”

They waddled, but it was no use. It took forever to get to the outer edge of the ice. When they arrived, they looked out at how far they’d floated. “I can’t swim back from here,” Megan cried.

“You think I can?” Andy snapped. When her eyes filled with dismay, he let out a big sigh. He wanted to save her. He would do anything for her. But what could he do now? They were trapped. “I’m sorry,” he said. His shoulders fell along with his hopes. “I wanted today to be perfect, and look what I’ve done. We’re going to die out here. We’ll never see the others again. It’s over.”

As much as Megan wanted to stay optimistic, she’d heard the stories too. The ice was melting too early, before couples could across the ridge. There was no telling where it would happen, or when. Trapped on the ice float, they couldn’t feed or fish. There were no krill where they were headed. They’d starve to death. They both knew it.

“It’s not your fault,” she said, cuddling close. She pressed her front against his. “Let’s just be happy we’re together. It’s not our fault this is happening.”

~The End~

It's not their fault.

Thanks for reading,
Giselle Renarde
Canada just got hotter!

Monday, October 12, 2009

Quick Six Interview with Eve Cassidy

Quick Six

Interview with Eve Cassidy

1. Hi Eve! Would you be so kind as to tell us what type of stories you write?

I'm currently writing Contemporary Erotica about hot, hard military heroes. A subject near and dear to my heart.

2. What are you reading right now?

Pleasuring A Pirate by Leila Brown. I don't read much sci fi so I wanted to try something different and space pirates fit the bill perfectly.

3. I hear music in the background…what’s playing?

The Twilight soundtrack. It's my favorite to write to.

4. Do you have a favourite naughty word?

Definitely fuck. I don't say it nearly as much as I write it but boy do I love to write it.

5. Is there a word or phrase that absolutely makes you cringe?

Nothing is really coming to me at the moment.

6. Be honest: What are you snacking on?

Peanut butter cookies. They've become a recent weakness.

Promo time! Flog your wares. Any exciting new releases? How can readers find out more about you and your work?

I just had my first release, G.I. Jamie with Excessica come out on October 5th. Since i've been wanting to write about the sexy side of the military for a very long time i'm super excited about this.

Here's the blurb:

She’s hot, she’s sexy and she can kick some ass!

Jamie is in the middle of becoming a trained soldier in the Marine Corps when she literally bumps into a man that sparks her fire. With her focus lost she does what any red-blooded American woman would and takes matters into her own hand…literally.

When that’s not enough she throws caution to the wind and takes a second chance encounter with a hot, sexy stranger for all that she can.

If you'd like to see more or what's coming in the future you can visit me at my new website, which is still a work in progress, at:

http://evecassidy.wordpress.com

You would love "Jerry Springer: The Opera" if fuck is a favourite word. One of the classic lines from the show (and yes, it really is an opera) is, "What the fuck? What the fuck? What the fucking fucking fuck?"

It always amuses me, when I give these interviews, how there are salient words out there (fuck being one of them, cunt being another) that people either love or hate. Last week's Quick Six author cited fuck as the word that made her cringe, particularly when said in rapid succession.

What the fuck? What the fuck? What the fucking fucking fuck?

LOL. Now I'm just being an instigator. Thanks for the interview, Eve! We greatly appreciate it.

Giselle Renarde


Monday, October 5, 2009

Quick Six Interview with Tory Richards

Quick Six
Interview with Tory Richards

1. Hi Tory! Would you be so kind as to tell us what type of stories you write?

TR: Contemporary suspense romance leaning toward the erotic side. My heroes are cowboys, mercenaries, fire fighters, and in law enforcement and I've just recently included a marine in the mix.

2. What are you reading right now?

TR: The Romantic Times Magazine

3. I hear music in the background…what' s playing?

TR: LOL...the sound track to Last of the Mohicans! My all time favorite movie.

4. Do you have a favourite naughty word?

TR: Yes, but it's a bedroom word so I can't say it here:)

5. Is there a word or phrase that absolutely makes you cringe?

TR: Absolutely! Anytime someone uses the N word or the F word, especially if the F word is used several times in the same sentence. I'm sorry but I just don't see the need in that.

6. Be honest: What are you snacking on?

TR: Actually, nothing at the moment. But I am enjoying a hazelnut iced coffee from McDonalds.

Promo time! Flog your wares. Any exciting new releases? How can readers find out more about you and your work?

TR: My latest release, this year, is THE COWBOY WAY. It's offered in print and ebook form by Whiskey Creek Press Torrid. Here's a blurb: Arson and murder. An escaped convict driven by revenge complicates the lives of a sexy cowboy and the rancher's daughter he's sworn to protect.

I have two other torrid romances with WCP, IT'S ALL IN THE JEANS and WICKED DESIRE.

Readers can find out more about me and my books at:

Tory Richards website or Romance with an Attitude Blog

Thanks Tory! Sure you can say bedroom words here. My office is in my bedroom (in more ways than one) and I only blush when people tell me I'm a nice person.

I love the kissing image on your website. Of course, I prefer girls so I'll just close my eyes and pretend I'm the cowboy. Cowboys, cowboys, everywhere! The only cowboy story I've written is about a transsexual lesbian rodeo star.

I'm also interested in becoming trailer trash, after visiting your blog. LOL

Thanks so much for the interview!
Giselle Renarde

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Giving Made Easy

By now, I'm sure everyone knows that between September 15th and December 15th 2009, all profits from the sale of Giselle Renarde Erotica through the eXcessica.com website will be donated to LGBT YOUTHLINE.

What you might not know is that it's now easier than ever to give. Whether you have $2, $1, or even just 50 cents, you can make a contribution to a worthy causing using the Paypal button below. Give what you can, whatever that means to you.









This August, Bill Clinton came to Toronto to give a speech "nobody" attended. Well, since I was one of the "nobodies" who went to hear him speak, I can tell you what he had to say. We all know the economy sucks right now, and we all know how it impacts us personally. Strangely, even with all the advocacy and volunteer work I do, I hadn't considered exactly how economic troubles are affective not-for-profit organizations.

I also didn't know that Clinton heads up a global humanitarian foundation, which helps third world countries with infrastructure, HIV/AIDS, etc. He told the crowd the major impact the economic downturn has had on his foundation (in terms of fundraising) is that most of the money coming in was from large donors--large donors who have since lost money big time.

So where does the money come from when the big boys take financially ill? From US. From you and me. From the people who have $1 to spare. And I don't say one dollar metaphorically. I mean $1.

That's the approach I'm taking this year in raising funds for LGBT YOUTHLINE. The heavy hitters are out of the picture. It's falling to us now to step up and support organizations that take care of our young people.

Please give what you can. You'll have not only the appreciation of LGBT youth to warm your heart, but you'll have my personal appreciation as well.

Bright Blessings,
Thank You All,
Giselle Renarde





Monday, September 28, 2009

FREE READ! $150 for the Half


Did you know that author M Christian has a great blog called Frequently Felt featuring tons of free reads from some of your favourite authors...like me?

Right now you can read a flash I really love. It's one of my all-time favourites. $150 for the Half originally appeared at Ruthie's Club, but now you can read it for free at Frequently Felt.

Enjoy!
Giselle Renarde
Canada just got hotter!

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Celebrate Bisexuality Day!

Damn it Jim, we missed it again!

Apparently every September 23rd is hailed as Celebrate Bisexuality Day, so I'm late with the well-wishes here. Sorry. Better late than never...? If I can make my excuses, I didn't actually know it existed.

But it's true that bisexuality ought to be celebrated. It tends to get skimmed over, largely. In many context, bi folks are even castigated or mocked--and I'm talking by both the breeders and by the so-called LGBT community. I've (honestly) heard some lesbian and gay folks say things to bi friends like, "Oh, soon you'll realized you're actually a lesbian. You're not really bi."

Let's think about the kind of labels we stick to bi folks. We all have stereotypes implanted in our minds. Have you ever said anything about a bi person or bisexuals as a group that wasn't so savoury?

"He's so wishy-washy. Is he straight or is he gay?"

"When is she going to come out for real?"

"He must just be oversexed. He'll jump anything with a heartbeat."

"It's just a phase. When she's finished experimenting, she'll settle down with a nice guy."

Bi folks might even be up against more obstacles than gays and lesbians. Is that a really contentious statement to make? I suppose so, but bisexuals get a hell of a lot of flack from just about everyone. That, or they're just ignored as a group.

So, even if we're going it a day late, let's celebrate bisexuality! Better yet, let's do it with a new anthology I've contributed to called Like Twin Stars. New from Circlet Press, this baby brings you bisexual erotic stories from the science fiction realm.

Like Twin Stars: Bisexual Erotic Stories
edited by Cecilia Tan and Kelly Clark

ISBN: 978-1-885865-86-1
Word Count: 20,800

List Price: $2.99

Available from:

For the next two weeks the title is on sale at up to 20% off from most partner sites, and right here at Circlet.com, so don’t dawdle, download a copy today!

From the publisher of Best Bisexual Erotica and the leader in erotic sf/fantasy, Circlet Press, comes LIKE TWIN STARS, collecting three hot stories exploring bisexuality through a fantastical lens. According to Scientific American, bisexual behavior is common in over 1500 species of animals on Earth, including humans, for whom it has greater social and personal consequences than it does for penguins, baboons, or garter snakes. Through worlds of fantasy, we can explore the erotic and social possibilities for a bisexual identity only available in flights of the imagination. Visit a tribal society where the men “dance” with each other in order to attract wives, a fantasy world where sexuality is only awakened by the visit of a succubus or incubus, and a future where the intersex characteristics in fish and other species caused by environmental changes in our day and age finally begin to present in human beings.

Includes:
The Dancer’s War by N.K. Jemisin
Incubus, Succubus by Neil Hudson
The Travesties by Giselle Renarde



My story is called The Travesties, and I'd like to tell you a bit about it:

After hormonal pollution of major waterways goes unchecked for decades, a genome variance generates a new breed of humans. The Travesties, as sensationalist media and medical professionals dub them, experience gender as fluid, not only mentally and emotionally but also physically. Their bodies are capable of changing form at will, from masculine to feminine and back again. In a world that accepts only the black and white states of male and female, the Travesties are feared as a dangerous new race.

Compassionate clinician Sebastian Savant is distressed by the unapologetic denigration the Travesties face. When he meets Cam/ille, a Travesty patient at his hospital, he soon discovers her attending physician isn’t as sympathetic as she appears. Can Sebastian help Cam/ille escape a scientific community that sees her unique body as a hazard to society?
If I'm honest, I'll admit The Travesties is the first story I've ever written that my Sweet actually jumped out of her seat over. She's a S/F nut, so I'm glad my initial venture into the sci fi realm pleased her so.

So, get yourself a copy of Like Twin Stars new from Circlet Press and have yourself a happy belated Bisexuality Day!

Big Hugs!
Giselle Renarde
Canada just got hotter!