sexy

Is Marriage Still Sexy?

December 14, 2013 by scarletdarkwood

When I finished Mistress Of The House and submitted it to my beta reader, she had some thoughts on this particular novel that she didn’t have on the others. Well, of course she’d have different feelings for this piece of work, because it (and I would venture to say Master Of The House too) focuses on marriage as the goal. Actually, the reader finds out quickly that Thelma Starnsby has marriage on the brain.

So what? You may ask; and that’s all well and good. But here is what my beta reader thought: she had a difficult time with the values Thelma had, though she made it clear that she accepted Thelma’s values as real to her, the character. However, the reader indicated that she never went into relationships with marriage as the goal, and that she thought this concept was rather strange to her, something she couldn’t quite grasp.

Many would add that women may be less inclined in this modern day age to consider marriage as strongly as they did years ago, especially the time in which the House books take place. In the 1920s and 1930s, usually a woman’s chance for any kind of security in life hinged on a good marriage. For all you women out there, you might say a prayer today that you’re even allowed to have a bad day at the office. Why? Because in the 1920s and 2930s, employers refused to hire women for open positions in their company or business.

So what’s a good gal to do? Thelma’s motto would be, “If you got it, flaunt it.” And that’s just what she did. She decided to make her lessons at The House pay off in dividends, by using her amorous skills in landing the man of her dreams. As it also happened, the man of her dreams truly had been dreaming of someone like Thelma. He just didn’t realize it until she opened his eyes to the truth, to his own carnal desires.

If you read Mistress Of The House, please, all you modern ladies, don’t be so quick to judge Thelma as too outdated. She knew what she wanted and she went after it, using everything in her arsenal. Because of the times she lived in, choices were limited compared to what they are today.

So what about all of you ladies out there? Do you still value marriage as something you wish to pursue in your life? Do you think marriage as a goal for women is outdated? Are more women marrying or staying single? Do Thelma’s values seem foreign to you today?

Mistress Of The House Is Published!

October 31, 2013 by scarletdarkwood

Another House Tale Book is birthed and ready to be enjoyed by readers! As someone told me, this is the best of them all! I have to admit, I’m pretty proud of it, if I say so myself. Thelma has just returned from her treatment at The House, and she’s primed and ready to practice what she’s learned on her darling Harry, the main squeeze in her life. Little does he suspect what she’s up to, but in the meantime, he’s enjoying the royal, sexy treatment Thelma begins to lavish on him. If you read Pleasure House, you’ll remember Thelma’s conversation with Rose, and how she managed to get Harry to propose. But no major details were given, so if you want the full scoop, read Mistress Of The House, and learn how a woman took charge of her life–and her man!

The Sexy, Powerful Mistress Lover

September 14, 2013 by scarletdarkwood

For all you guys out there, do you like sirens and sexy, hot-blooded lusty vixens in bed, one who takes control of activities in the bedroom and leaves you panting for more? Do all you women want to be like these alluring creatures, with all their sensuous, flirty, and confident ways?

As I write my current WIP, Mistress Of The House, Thelma Starnsby, fresh from her stint at The House, is just that woman who is a powerful seductress who finds a way to practice all her sexual schooling on her beloved Harry Wisenburg, the man who sets her heart on fire. Hurt by his first wife, who turned their marriage bed into a proverbial icebox, Harry has repressed his sexual desire, refusing to acknowledge carnal pleasure in any way. But little by little, Thelma leads him into a hotbed of fun, exploration, and self-discovery, allowing him to return to the pleasures of sexual bliss.

Readers who have read Pleasure House, will remember that Thelma actually showed up and talked a little bit to Rose, telling her how she lured Harry into her web of intrigue. Like Wille and Louise, who come to life in Master Of The House, Thelma and Harry also come to life in this new WIP. And I must say, as I work on this current piece, I enjoy seeing these characters emerge, just like I saw Wille and Louise evolve in Master Of The House.

I’ll be telling more about this new work in future posts, but in the meantime, think about women and how you view them where sex is concerned. Do you like vixens in bed, or do you like the quieter, more submissive type? Do you like women calling the shots? Do you think men can be insecure about their performance in bed? Can a bad sexual relationship turn a man off completely from sex, making him shy away or give up? Do you think we have evolved or devolved in our views and treatment of women? I’d love to hear what you think, so don’t be afraid to speak up!

Ebook Returns Are Not Erotic Or Sexy!

July 22, 2013 by scarletdarkwood

I’ve never addressed this topic before, but I just feel compelled to do it now. What you may read below, by Janus Gangi, an author friend of mine, may get your hackles up as a reader. HOWEVER, try putting yourself in a writer’s shoes: What if you put your time and energy into writing books, and suddenly everyone thought you needed to give them away free? Or just as bad, slammed your work as crap and a piece of trash? One lady who responded to Ms. Gangi’s post below had the audacity to say the following:

” . . . if you can’t pay your bills writing books you should get another job.”

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? REALLY? And I’m inclined to say this: If you are such an entitled cheapskate: give up reading and find another hobby!!

I’m so sorry. That was unlady-like and uncalled for. But here’s the thing, I appreciate my current readers and future readers, but honestly, ladies and gentlemen, please put yourself in my position: I work hard at what I write, and I put lots of effort in getting beta readers to review my work, as well as PAY an editor and cover designer to put the finishing touches on everything. I do my utmost to put out the best quality book that I humanly can. If you think indie writers put out crap, or that I put out crap, I’ll throw down this gauntlet: WRITE YOUR OWN PERFECT BOOK, THEN! Let’s see how well you do. Go ahead, I dare anyone of you to try, if you haven’t done it before. Enough of my rant, here’s Janus Gangi’s Post:

“I was brought up to believe that if you want anything in this life you must work hard for it , nothing is just handed to you. Life is NOT about the” free ride”. But lately, I have seen a disturbing trend happening in the writing world that not only affects me but all my fellow authors.

As you all know, I post many free books on my page. I do this as a courtesy to my fellow authors. I realize that the most important thing a new author must achieve is name recognition. And so, by sharing their links in some small way I can help them reach that goal.

But let’s step back and take a real good look at “free books” and what their purpose is and what has sadly has been the result of this trend.

Overall book sales are drastically down. Why? Because we in the book business have spoiled our readers into thinking they deserve to get ALL their books for free. And now an even more sinister practice has come to light. When books are not for free, readers are reading them and then returning them for their full purchase price.

I AM FURIOUS!

It takes an awful lot to get this witches cauldron to boil over but it finally has and so I think it is time to set the record straight.
For far too long the misconception that writers are independently wealthy and can afford to sit for hours writing and editing a manuscript is nothing more than a hobby is BALDERDASH!

There is not one of you that will work a forty hour week and expect no pay for it, but yet, that is what is expected of authors.
Writing a manuscript can take anywhere from months to years to be completed. And then because readers rightfully expect nothing less than an excellent plot line, correct grammar, and no typos, the editing process can take just as long and in some cases longer.

Mind you there is not one good writer out there that will rely on their own editing skills and so, we must hire an editor. The key word is hire; we pay to have our works edited. Now let’s just think about this for a moment…. Oh that’s right authors have bills too! Who’da thunk?

Oh and then there are all those pretty book covers that readers love to be enticed by. News flash: they are not free. We must hire a graphic artist to create them and we must pay for their services.

We also need electricity to light our homes and run our computers. We have rent or mortgage payments due at the beginning of every month. We eat and so we must pay the grocery store or starve. We have children and grandchildren that need clothes, shoes and school supplies. We are no different than any other group of working people. We just work at home. Some of us have more than one job. We work from nine to five and then, exhausted, come home and write.

Don’t get me wrong, we all love what we do. But authors are not second class citizens; we deserve to receive an honest salary for our labors.

The next time you see a link for a book why not change your way of thinking? Instead of saying, “Oh, that looks interesting. I’ll just wait for it to go free,”
purchase the book, support authors and the arts by sharing the links.” BY: Janus Gangi

So what’s your take on all this: Do you really think books should be free? Do you buy other books from an author if they offer a free one? Do you sit around and snap up free books and don’t buy much of anything? Have you ever tried to be in business for yourself and people say and do the darndest things–before walking away and purchasing nothing . . .?