Shorty but Sweety

In need of a free read? Here's a shorty but sweety for those who love lesbian erotica:

Repeat Broadcast is a melancholic poem of longing. I wrote it in bed one night, listening to my beloved CBC Radio Two. A concerto for bass guitar came on and I smiled not just because of the very bizarre orchestration, but because I'd actually heard it before. Repeat broadcast. And then my mind began to wander...

Read my poem of lesbian longing, along with poetry and stories by other talented authors, absolutely free at my new favourite site, Oysters and Chocolate.

Lot of Lovin'
gigi

Quick Six Interview with Vivian Vincent

Quick Six Interview with Vivian Vincent

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

Erotic Romance primarily. I did write one very short story several years ago. It was a drama of sorts about a suburban housewife and the aftermath of a driveby shooting. I'd like to eventually try my hand at a thriller or cop drama.

2. What are you reading right now?

Nauti Dreams by Lora Leigh. Very steamy! Highly recommended to anyone who likes a good steamy romance with hot hunky ex-Marines!


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

Probably something from the 80's. I'm hopelessly addicted to 80's music. It's a weakness!

4. Do you have a favourite naughty word?

I say the "f" word way too much. Especially when I'm angry.


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

"Your mom is in the hospital." I've heard that more than I should lately from my step-dad. :(


6. Be honest: What are you snacking on?

Pringles Screamin' Dill flavored chips! YUM!


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

My first ever short story released September 15, 2008! It's called The Mechanic and is available through excessica.com.

Readers can find out more about me at MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/vivian_vincent

80's music? Well, thanks a lot! Now you've got me craving Boy George. I always was a sucker for the gender-queer. I'm going to have to tear this place apart looking for my old box of records. Actually--I just had a flashback--I had Karma Chameleon on record for sure, but my very first cassette tape was Madonna's Like a Virgin. How bizarre that I lost my cassette-tape-ownership-virginity to that particular recording.
Ahhhhhh...the memories.
Thanks for the interview, Vivian!
gigi

Quick Six Interview with Rick Laurie

Quick Six

Interview with Rick Laurie

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

I like to write in every kind of genre, but, specifically, I like to write young adult fiction in a horror/mystery format. I have finished a novel titled The Boy in the Window about a fourteen-year-old girl solving a twenty-five-year-old murder. I am trying to get that published. I’m also about half way through another young adult novel titled The Book That Came True. This book is about a group of four teenagers who are reading a book assignment for English class, find out the book is really happening and they must figure out how to stop the inevitable ending.

2. What are you reading right now?

I’m reading Be Cool by Elmore Leonard. Prior to that I was totally immersed in Cormac McCarthy.

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

More than likely Sting. Hold on. Yep, that’s it. A live version titled All This Time, right after the 9/11 tragedy.

4. Do you have a favorite naughty word?

Pussy. I can’t help it. If there ever was a perfect descriptive, that’s it.

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

“You’re such an asshole!” If my wife says that to me one more time…

6. Be honest: What are you snacking on?

Reese Pieces. Better than sex? Well, pretty fucking close.

Yes, Reese's Pieces have the whole sweet-and-salty thing going for them...mmm...just like melty chocolate on sweaty skin. Ahem. And I completely agree: I love pussy too. lol. Thanks for the interview!
gigi

poverotica

poverotica /pawvirottikaw/ (n) literature or art lending erotic qualities to the state of being extremely poor.

As you might have guessed, there’s no such thing as poverotica. It’s a new addition to my lexicon of made-up words. And you’ve probably never wondered why poverotica doesn’t exist amongst the numerous categories of erotic fiction on the market. I never did either until the righteous Alessia Brio asked Coming Together contributors to think about poverty as a blog topic. Have you ever asked yourself, “Why are there no sexy stories about those members of our society living at subsistence level?”

The question answers itself, doesn’t it? Of course we don’t think these things. Poverty isn’t sexy. In fact, without even realizing it, most of us have been conditioned to adopt a fundamental belief in just the opposite: Money is sexy. Without it, there is no romance.

Before erotica consumed my life, I was an academic. As such, I wrote a thesis on the surprisingly hegemonic implications of sex advice articles in women’s magazines. As a sidebar to my observations, I noticed that much of the advice given about improving one’s sex life involved purchasing products. For instance, when one woman wrote in to ask how she could begin to enjoy sex with her husband again after he’d cheated on her, the columnist advised her to “throw away your comfortable nightgown” and “switch over to some sexy lingerie.”

Apart from reinforcing the disturbingly common belief that her husband’s affair was this woman’s fault, by advising the inquisitor to “switch over to sexy lingerie,” this, like many other advice articles, subtly reinforces the role that sexuality plays in supporting Capitalism and consumerist behaviours.

The entire category of romantic love conspires with Capitalist endeavours to encourage commercialism through the purchase of roses, chocolates, jewellery, “romantic” holidays, weddings and much more, as signifiers of love and commitment. The conventional relationship-oriented objects and rituals that have the highest symbolic values, like the wedding, the wedding ring and the honeymoon, also have the highest exchange values. Just think about how incredibly profitable the wedding industry has become!

The idea that love, or sexual desire for that matter, is expressed through the exchange of items drawn from the specific lexicon of love-connoting merchandise has established a culture wherein “love” and consumerism exist in a symbiotic relationship: It is in the corporation’s interest to emphasize the symbolic value of its product in relation to love and sex, because this vastly increases the product’s exchange value.

From the example given above, it is far more likely that the advice-seeker, and other women in her situation, will purchase expensive, over-priced lingerie when they are led by magazine articles to believe that this will help to salvage their sex lives and even their marriages.

Conversely, such advice misleads readers into believing their relationships are doomed if they can’t afford the trappings of romantic love and desire. This is not just academic theory; it’s rehearsed again and again in real life. Hell, my girlfriend’s always reminding me how much she loves being treated to fancy meals and expensive gifts; they make her feel special.

How is it that even we, the educated and the socially aware, still fall into these Consumerist traps? The costly signifiers of romance are just that: empty vessels of connotation. There are far better ways of showing our loved ones we care, and these methods don’t require us to spend our life’s savings. Words cost nothing: “I love you. You are special. Come to bed and I’ll show you...”

Giselle Renarde
www.freewebs.com/gisellerenarde/
donutsdesires.blogspot.com

Ode to Mom

Here in Canada, we’re celebrating Thanksgiving this weekend. The holiday’s got me thinking about everything I have in life. I may not own half as much stuff as most North Americans, but I’m very aware of the abundance in my life. As long as there’s food in my fridge and a roof over my head, the rest is pure luxury.

That’s in terms of “stuff.”

But “stuff” isn’t the half of it, when I start to think about the things for which I’m really, deeply grateful. In that vein, I would like to publicly and officially give thanks for the most special person in my life: my mom.

I’m grateful for her sensibility and good decisions. It takes incredible strength for a woman to remove herself from a bad domestic situation. It takes diligence, hard work, and excellent budgeting skills to support four children unaided on a secretary’s salary.

Sure, mom and I had our screaming matches when I was in my teens, but as adults we’ve established a close bond. When I admitted to her, many years ago, that I’d been involved with a married man, she just listened. She didn’t lecture me like a child, she listened to me as a friend. That’s how I knew there’d been a shift in our relationship.

How fortunate am I to have a mother who, when I introduced the topic of sexual identity, wholeheartedly encouraged me to identify as “queer” if that’s how I felt? And how many moms would react to a daughter’s romantic relationship with a transsexual woman by saying, “That’s kind of weird, but I’m so proud that you’re so open-minded and accepting”? And since then, she’s gone on to become very interested in and supportive of my relationship with Sweet. She sees that I’m loved, and that’s all that matters.

I couldn’t ask for a better mom. The trouble is, I’m really bad at telling people just how much they mean to me. Tomorrow, when I gather with my family for Thanksgiving dinner, let’s see if I can finally work up the courage to tell my mom just how great she is.

And to all Canadians, Happy Thanksgiving and don’t forget there’s a federal election on Tuesday. Get out there and vote!

Bright Blessings,
Giselle Renarde

On My Knees...Again...

This is becoming a quaintly familiar pose. What I'm begging for today is your vote. Hmm...have you heard that one before?

My wonderfully fabulous trailer for TANGLED ROOTS is entry #8 for the month of October's New Covey Trailer Awards. That's right: I've hit the big time, baby. So please click here to head on over and vote for it. Remember, the music was arranged and recorded by yours truly. That's gotta count for something, right?

Moment of Random Nostalgia

Do you remember THE TRASHCAN TANGO from Sesame Street? I'm not sure what just reminded me of it, and I'm also not sure what we did before youtube. It didn't take much searching to find this clip from my favourite childhood TV show. Click here to watch it. Gosh, that takes me back. In fact, it's even funnier than I remember.

Well, friends, thanks for sharing this moment of random nostalgia with me. I always did like Oscar best. Hmm...maybe that's why I end up writing characters like Simone from TANGLED ROOTS.

Bright Blessings,
Giselle Renarde

Quick Six Interview with Selena Kitt

Quick Six

Interview with Selena Kitt

We're in luck today! Why? Because we have the one and only Selena Kitt joining us for Quick Six.

1. So, Selena, would you be so kind as to tell us what type of stories you write?

SK: At the moment, primarily erotic, but I also enjoy writing horror and suspense.

2. What are you reading right now?

SK: The "Twilight" series by Stephanie Meyers (because the kids picked it up and made a big deal and I had to see what all the fuss was about!) So far, sparkly "vegetarian" vampire meets very odiferous human girl...hmmmm...

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

SK: Music? Oh, no, that's just The Wiggles... the only singing group in existence who have made me seriously contemplate both homicide and suicide...

4. Do you have a favourite naughty word?

SK: Spasmed. I'm told it's not even a word, but I'm a rebel like that :)

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

SK: Billowy. Ugh. Don't ask me why, I think it's just such a silly word. I'm one of those writers who hates long, drawn out descriptions of...well...anything... I'm of the mind that if you can't use it in conversation, throw it out. Seriously, where are you going to use this word in conversation? "Look at those billowy clouds!" Really? Come on!

6. Be honest: What are you snacking on?

Honestly? Celery and peanut butter with a few raisins on top. Kids call them "Bugs on a Log" - which makes it sound soooo much more appetizing, right? Now if you asked me what I WANTED to be snacking on... OMG... chocolatechocolatechocolatechoc...

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

New stuff coming out all the time... and a pretty big backlist, too!
www.selenakitt.com

Hmmm... The Wiggles and Bugs on a Log? There are so many things in this world I have yet to experience. And what about sails? Can they billow?
*smirk*
Thanks so much for your time, Selena!
Cheers,
gigi

That Explains the Donuts

You’ll have to excuse me if I sound a little light-headed; I’ve eaten nothing but donuts today. One after another, after another…and then one more. Maple cream, glazed sourdough, old fashioned chocolate, and a blueberry fritter. And you wondered why my blog was called Donuts & Desires!

That explains the “Donuts.”

As for the desires…let’s just say they’re being expertly fulfilled as well. Okay, maybe not four times a day (at least, not since that night a couple weeks ago when I took Sweet to the theatre. She really appreciated it.), but six months into our relationship, it still feels very new. We’re still figuring things out, especially when it comes to sex.

I’d never been involved with a transsexual woman before Sweet. She’d never been in a lesbian relationship before me. Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever shared this with you, but in the beginning, Sweet was adamant that this relationship—this girl-girl sexual relationship we now share—would never manifest.

How irritating it was for me, finally meeting Sweet in her girl form and being incorrigibly attracted to her, only for her to say, “Too bad! You can’t have me.” By the time she formally introduced herself to me as a woman, we’d been at it like rabbits for months in our boy-girl relationship. I was beyond ready to embrace Girl Sweet, and not just emotionally. The moment she appeared on my doorstep in that long flowing skirt, wearing makeup and jewellery, I wanted her. I wanted her like mad. But it was “No, no, no” at every turn.

I remember thinking…

HE is my lover. SHE will barely flirt with me. How do I reconcile this dichotomy when I can do nothing but wait out her resistance?
HE is my lover. But SHE is more real than HE. How can I be truly important in this person’s life when SHE doesn’t want to be the object of my love and desire? When my sexual energy can only be meant for…HIM…the lesser half…?

Girl Sweet fought my desire, but I knew in my heart that her opposition was not an insurmountable obstacle. I loved her. She loved me. It would all work out.

So how did we get from there to here? I patiently eroded her resistance, of course. * smirk * Yes, there’s more to the story, but I’ll share that with you another day. Patience pays, my friends.

Bright Blessings,
Giselle Renarde

Quick Six Interview with Savannah Reardon

Quick Six Interview with Savannah Reardon

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

SR: I write erotica in all shades and varieties from normal, vanilla romance to hot and heavy BDSM to furry, alien lion-men.

2. What are you reading right now?

SR: Endangered Species by Nevada Barr

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

SR: Real Good Man by Tim McGraw (Yahoo Launchcast)

4. Do you have a favourite naughty word?

SR: I don't really think I have a favorite. I like most all of them. ;)

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

SR: cunt... Though I am trying to reclaim that word and have used it in some of my works.

6. Be honest: What are you snacking on?

SR: Funyuns!

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

SR: At the moment, I have Graceful Love, published by eXcessica. It's a romance filled with some angst brought about by a mother with psychological issues. It's also available on Fictionwise and ARe. Also available on eXcessica is the free read, Unplugged, a hot little story about a woman's experience with a butt plug and anal sex. I'm working on editing a novel length manuscript that I plan to submit to eXcessica in the near future, and I also have another story ready to submit to a different publisher (Dragons anyone?). Readers can get the latest news by going to http://savannahreardon.tripod.com, http://sreardon.blogspot.com, or www.myspace.com/savannahreardon.

I used to feel that way about "cunt"--that it was a bad, bad word--but the more I used it the more empowering a term it became for me, in my work and in my life. You're absolutely right about reclaiming it. "Cunt" is a lot like "Queer." Thirty years ago, "Queer" was a horrible word, but the community did an incredible job of converting it into a title of empowerment. Though, I do know a few older individuals who still shake their heads and ask, "How can you call yourself queer? That's a derogatory term!" But I could go on and on about etymological progression...instead, I'll just say thanks so much to Savanna Reardon for today's Quick Six interview!

A Love Note to Aspiring Authors

It seems like everyone needs something from building superintendent (okay, assistant super) Sexi Lexi. Luckily Lexi has a lot to give...

Featured this week at Ruthie's Club is a story near and dear to my heart called All in a Day's Work.

All in a Day’s Work is a self-reflexive take on those stale 1980’s “I’m here to fix your plumbing” porn videos. Lexi the Sexi superintendent (okay, assistant super) thinks she’s taking the building by storm until she meets the insistent Mrs Suraj. Convinced the boyish Lexi must be a lesbian, the beautiful tenant won’t release her until those rusty pipes are fixed. After an exhausting mutual masturbation session with a cute guy in the building, the sexy super comes home to a pussycat pair of college friends desperate for someone to hold the video camera as they live out an exhibitionist’s dream. No rest for the wicked! Red-hot from beginning to end, this piece includes some unexpected BDSM, good old 1980’s porn-watching, anal play, F/F content, and boasts a multi-cultural cast of characters.

Sounds like a fun little romp, right? Maybe a little bit self-discovery in there, but no deep emotional connections. What's so special about this story? It's pure porn!

Well, my friends, All in a Day's Work is the very first story I ever wrote with the intent of publishing. That's right: it was only just picked up this week, but I wrote Day's Work almost a year and a half ago.

The aspiring writers reading this post ought to feel encouraged by this fact. Do you ever feel like all you do is write and send off submissions, and all you get in return are rejections? I think we've all been there.

The first acceptance is golden, but you worry it was a one-off, or that the editor or publisher wasn't paying close enough attention, or even that they're trying to scam you somehow. Then a second work is accepted. You're over the moon, and a bit more at ease. You get more and more experience with the editing process under your belt, add some publications to your history, and suddenly you realize you have a hell of a lot of work out in the world.

If you really work at it and you have a knack for writing, there is hope. The key is to never stop learning. Always be open to advice from editors and seasoned writers. Don't get your back up at constructive criticism, even if it's harshly-phrased, because it's always more useful than you realize right away. The more I really listened to what my editors were telling me, the better my writing got. Gets. My work continues to improve as I receive more and more feedback.

I didn't realize, in the beginning, the importance of familiarizing oneself with the works a given editor appreciates, or with the type of stories a given publisher or magazine tends to select. I can't tell you how much time I wasted sending the wrong works to the wrong people! A fashion magazine doesn't want to see your article about black holes, right? It's the wrong venue to showcase your work. Send it to an astronomical publication. Know who your stories are geared toward and market to that demographic.

So, it's been advice day here at Donuts and Desires. I hope it's at least a little useful to at least one of you. *smile* I also hope you'll all run on over to Ruthie's Club to read my prime opus, All in a Day's Work.

Bright Blessings,
Giselle Renarde