Pets in romance stories

Do you like your hero or heroine to have a pet or two? Does it make them more real to you if they cuddle a kitty after yelling at their true love? Or cry into their horse’s mane? Or maybe she owns a really clever pet bird that frightens away a would-be bad guy? Do you like the thought of your hunky hero going for a run with his dog?

I can think of one mystery author who always includes a cat or two in her books and the cats’ characters are every bit as vivid as that of the humans. And sometimes far more interesting to me, as a reader too.

I know of another author who adores animals and it shows in every line she writes about her shapeshifter wolves.

Then there are books I’ve read with a pet introduced in chapter one and never mentioned again in the book. I’m always left wondering, “What happened to the pet when the lovers hooked up? Is the pet going to get an HEA or not?”

There are a group of well-known authors who have written entire series of books where the hero or heroine is basically just a foil for the animal character that solves the mystery/ saves the world. That is another entire genre of book.

According to the God of all Knowledge, WikiAnswers, 63% of American households have a pet, the vast majority of them either a dog and/or a cat. Hamsters, fish, mice, guinea pigs, birds, snakes, bunnies, iguanas and ferrets are all in the top ten pets depending on who you believe.

So this is where I came in. If so many people own pets do they want to read about them in their books? Because they have a pet do they feel better if the hero/heroine has a pet?

Or do they see pets as something a kid needs to grow up with, rather like a bike and a football? Or just another household chore to perform? Do the laundry, cook the supper, walk the dog?

Many animals offer their human endless love, trust and companionship. They don’t fuss about unwashed blankets or unironed clothing. They adore being petted and at least pretend to listen when you talk to them. But does this uncomplaining attitude then make the hero or heroine look bad when they are upset at how their lover is treating them?

So what do you think? Should book characters be pet-owners? Or is this likely to make them be less appealing to their lover? After all, it is hardly romantic for the heroine to say, “I can’t go out without you tonight. I have to clean out the bird cage.”

Speaking of birds, in “Blue Bird of Happiness” Roland Clarke has a cat, Mr. Claws. Michael Taggart inherits two lovebirds, Bonnie and Clyde. Bonnie can open the cage door and escape. Every time Roland and Mike try to get together the animals come between them. As you can imagine, their path to a happy ending is as much about the animals in their lives as the lust and love in their hearts.

“Blue Bird of Happiness”: https://www.amazon.com/Happiness-Paint-Publishing-Classic-ManLove-ebook/dp/B00NEWXO2W/
“The Paint Store Boys” series: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=the+paint+store+boys+Berengaria

Berengaria Brown
Blog: http://berengariasblog.blogspot.com/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Berengaria-Brown/e/B00541R3YQ/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/berengaria.brown?fref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BerengariaBrown

Sex in the Water

Huge numbers of erotic romance books have a sex scene in the shower. Likely all that steamy heat, scented with yummy shower jells and even yummier naked men, is why such scenes are very popular. Besides vertical sex is just plain hotter than horizontal sex.

Hot tub sex is quite common. Again, near naked or totally naked bodies, plus steamy heat is just crying out for a sex scene.

But what about sex in the ocean or river? Likely if people are swimming it’s a hot day, and there is once again the whole nearly naked aspect bound to crank up the sexual tension. But now we have a logistical problem. Even if it is a private beach with no people around, how do the characters know there isn’t someone out on a boat, or back on the shore, with binoculars—or worse still a camera with a telephoto lens—watching them? Or does the thrill of discovery just make it naughtier and more exciting?

And then there is the problem of friction. Successful orgasms generally require friction, especially for the man, and water prevents friction. Which means pretty much anything below the waterline isn’t going to happen. So we need knee-deep water and the couple standing up. Which brings us back to the onlooker and his camera.
Or we could forget all about physics, sit our characters down in the water, and let our imaginations run wild!

My “The Beach Boys” series is set at Two Waters beach, a real place. It’s a narrow isthmus of land with a lake on one side and an ocean on the other. Families tend to stay on the placid, lake-side. The characters in my male/male romances prefer the wilder ocean side with its huge rock wall, and a sandbar just far enough away from shore to offer a little privacy.

There are four stories in this series: Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring. In each season a different couple of men discover the pleasures of the beach and each other. Each story is complete about that couple, but some characters return in cameo roles in later books.

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=The+Beach+Boys%3A+Berengaria+Brown&rh=n%3A133140011%2Ck%3AThe+Beach+Boys%3A+Berengaria+Brown

Berengaria Brown


Blog: http://berengariasblog.blogspot.com/
Bookstrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/berengaria-brown
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Berengaria-Brown/e/B00541R3YQ/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/berengaria.brown?fref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BerengariaBrown

What Do Men Want?

What Do Men Want?
Answer? Not much different from women. They want love, respect and someone to believe in them. But, and there always is a but, they’re more direct in their needs and desires. Sex is like breathing. They want hard and rough and hot. The partner who can take all that and more is their ideal.

Writing the male POV? Think of the men in your life. The man you love. The men that drive you mad with their grunts and unwanted opinions. Then think of the man who beds you and makes you scream with pleasure because he knows exactly what you want and need. Think edgy, hard and possessive. Think need and tenderness.

Men. They're complex. To write from their perspective? A real challenge. Nothing is worse than reading a male/male book where one of the characters’ names could be changed to a female name and the story wouldn’t change at all. But written with understanding? Ahh the best romance and hottest sex ever.

Do I know it all? Hell no. Will I keep striving to improve? Hell yes!

“Getting Naughty: Twenty Tantalizing Tales” includes three of my MM stories: “Fireworks at the Lake”, “Chocolate Coated Reunion”, and “The Loch Ness Monster, Romeo and Julio”.

“Fireworks at the Lake”: Andrew didn’t want to spend the Fourth of July long weekend with the people from the office so he goes to Lake Superior instead. There he sees Luke, a blond Viking who arouses every craving for love and lust inside him. But can he overcome his low self-esteem from when Rory rejected his love and open his heart to another man?

“The Loch Ness Monster, Romeo and Julio”: Fraser Campbell and Cameron MacDonald are sent to Glasgow on business. Cam’s determined to see the Loch Ness monster. Fraser just wants Cam.

“Chocolate-Coated Reunion”: Matt arranges to meet Jake for Christmas Eve drinks after work but after a series of disasters is very late. Jake refuses to talk to him. As Valentine’s Day approaches, Matt is determined to reconnect with Jake. But is Jake too hurt and disillusioned to forgive him?

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078H4ZLPT

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/getting-naughty-2

Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/getting-naughty-suz-demello/1127687384?ean=2940155023661

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Suz_deMello_Getting_Naughty?id=eo1DDwAAQBAJ

Berengaria Brown

An Excerpt from “Fireworks at the Lake” by Berengaria Brown

An Excerpt from “Fireworks at the Lake” by Berengaria Brown.
Part of the “Getting Naughty: Twenty Tantalizing Tales” anthology. Pre-order now!

Blurb:
Andrew goes to Lake Superior for the Fourth of July. A blond Viking arouses every craving inside him. But dare he risk rejection again?

Excerpt:
Andrew had spent most of the afternoon trying not to stare at the blond Viking stretched out on a lawn chair with the ripples from the lake running up and over his toes. The blond had removed his T-shirt and placed his Stetson over his face, but not before Andrew had seen the intense blue of his eyes and the sharp ridge of his nose. Since then Andrew had spent his time appreciating the Viking’s muscled arms and shoulders, his ripped abs and the long, long line of his legs—right down to the toes currently buried under an inch of water. Long, narrow toes, a fitting ending to the long, lean legs that disappeared inside baggy, knee-length shorts.
Likely, his view of the Viking was going to be the most exciting part of his Fourth of July weekend this year. Still, life wasn’t too bad. In fact, it could have been a hell of a lot worse. A bunch of the people from the office had planned to spend the day at a cookout in a city park. Andrew didn’t mind working with them, but he wasn’t ready to spend his vacation days with them as well, which was why he’d decided to come here to the lake for the three-day Fourth of July weekend.
Originally he’d planned to stay on the shore until the nine o’clock “family” fireworks display, then head back into the small tourist town for a meal before the midnight lakeside fireworks. But now his plans were liable to change. If the Viking stayed here, he’d stay. If the Viking went off with friends, that would be the end of his happy thoughts of getting to know the man. The only problem was, he hadn’t quite worked out how to get to know the blond yet.
Part of Andrew wanted to just sit and wait. The Viking had been lying there for a couple of hours already, and unless he planned to get quite wet, he’d have to move his lawn chair soon, as the tide was coming in. Likely when he stood up, Andrew could catch his gaze and say hello. Or something. On the other hand, it seemed rude to keep staring—or pretending not to stare—and not speak. But then, perhaps it would be safer to do nothing at all and just wait and watch. So Andrew waited and watched and tried to make up his mind what to do. Part of the problem was that his relationship with Rory had damaged his self-confidence.
He’d loved Rory passionately, far more passionately than Rory had ever loved him. Andrew had wanted them to live together, to settle down, to be a real couple, but Rory had never agreed to that. Gradually Andrew had realized that they were drifting apart, no matter how hard he’d tried to keep them together. Finally he’d understood that although Rory had been the man for him, he couldn’t fulfill Rory. After that had come a time of intense pain and anguish. A time when he’d wondered if he’d ever be enough to make another man happy. But that was last year, and Andrew was ready to try again. But only with someone who at least thought he might be able to love Andrew back.
Andrew stared at the Viking. He knew nothing about this man except that the blond was delicious eye-candy. However, something strong and powerful drew him to the Viking. Could this be his chance at happiness? Or would it be just another Rory who couldn’t return his love?

Pre-Order links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078H4ZLPT
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/getting-naughty-2
Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/getting-naughty-suz-demello/1127687384?ean=2940155023661
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Suz_deMello_Getting_Naughty?id=eo1DDwAAQBAJ

An Excerpt from “Chocolate-Coated Reunion” by Berengaria Brown

An Excerpt from “Chocolate-Coated Reunion” by Berengaria Brown.
Part of the “Getting Naughty: Twenty Tantalizing Tales” anthology. Pre-order now!

Blurb:
Matt arranges to meet Jake for Christmas Eve drinks after work but after a series of disasters is very late. Jake refuses to talk to him. As Valentine’s Day approaches, Matt is determined to reconnect with Jake. But is Jake too hurt and disillusioned to forgive him?

Excerpt:
“I need this finalized tonight. I know tomorrow’s Christmas, but the CEO expects me to have this data in a report for him on Thursday.” Clauson dropped a thick file folder onto Matt’s desk.
Matt looked up. He was just filling in his time sheet, ready to leave the moment it was five o’clock.
“But it’s four-thirty now.” Matt flicked a glance at the clock on his computer. “Four thirty-seven.”
“So what? You don’t have any kids. You don’t have to hurry home to do the whole Santa act. It should only take you about three hours. That’ll give you plenty of time to go to whatever holiday party you planned to attend.”
Matt opened his mouth to argue then shut it again. Not only didn’t he have kids, he wasn’t even in a steady relationship. He’d arranged to have drinks this evening with Jake and had hopes that their friendship would develop into a relationship, but that was all in the laps of the gods at this stage.
He opened the folder and glanced at the top few sheets. The data was clearly explained and would be easy to tabulate. Oh well, likely this wouldn’t even take him three hours. It wasn’t such a big deal after all.
Ten sheets into the file, the situation worsened dramatically. The data was no longer clear, there were pages and pages of handwritten notes that were scribbled over in different colored inks and it took him long minutes to decide whether that number was a three or an eight, and whether the next number was a one, a seven, or even possibly a two.
At six he texted Jake.
Sorry. Stuck @ work with project must finish. Hope to see you @ 8.
Almost immediately, his cell vibrated with a reply.
No problemo. I’ll work back too.
Relieved, Matt dug into the file with renewed energy, and a sigh of relief when the next few pages were much easier to decipher. It was only almost two hours later, when his columns didn’t add up, that he knew he’d guessed wrongly on some of the figures and had to go back and retry them. It took another hour to sort that mess out and by then, it was five to nine.
Really sorry. Still here. Another hour, he texted.
The answer came back, Sounds good.
Matt plowed on through the file, rejoicing when everything was straightforward, annoyed and frustrated when it wasn’t. At eleven he made the decision that he would hand in the work and catch the last bus home whether it was fully finished or not.
Catching last bus home. We’ll have midnight drinks together and toast the holiday season in style.
A brief OK was the response.


Pre-Order links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078H4ZLPT
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/getting-naughty-2
Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/getting-naughty-suz-demello/1127687384?ean=2940155023661
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Suz_deMello_Getting_Naughty?id=eo1DDwAAQBAJ

An Excerpt from “The Loch Ness Monster, Romeo and Julio” by Berengaria Brown

An Excerpt from “The Loch Ness Monster, Romeo and Julio” by Berengaria Brown.
Part of the “Getting Naughty: Twenty Tantalizing Tales” anthology. Pre-order now!

Blurb:
Fraser Campbell and Cameron MacDonald are sent to Glasgow on business. Cam’s determined to see the Loch Ness monster. Fraser just wants Cam.

Excerpt:
Cam staggered out of bed and into the shower when his alarm went off. He spent the first five minutes wondering whether or not he was crazy to be up so early in the hopes of seeing Nessie, but then he remembered he only had two opportunities to do this, today and tomorrow.
“Come on, man up, princess. How likely is it that Zeke’s will ever send you to Europe again? It’s now or never.”
He dressed and raced out to the parking lot, wondering if Fraser really would be there. He’d truly enjoyed Fraser’s companionship. There were so many other people Zeke’s could have sent with him who wouldn’t have been nearly as easy-going and pleasant travel companions as Fraser. The problem was that he’d like to kiss and hug Fraser, to hold him close and maybe go to bed with him. Which would be a disaster because of his family’s response to him associating with a Campbell.
Cameron sighed. He’d never forgotten the look on his grandmother’s face all those years ago when his older sister had innocently announced the name of the little girl who’d invited her to a birthday party.
“Fiona Campbell? StellaBeth MacDonald, you’ll not be attending any such thing. Only over my dead body will a MacDonald ever be in the same room as a Campbell.”
“But it’s a birthday party, Grandma.”
“Who’s to say the food they give you won’t be poisoned. Never trust a Campbell, girl.”
The thought that the food might be poisoned had silenced his sister, and himself. He and StellaBeth were teenagers before he realized most people no longer even knew about the Glencoe massacre, nor cared about family feuds. But forming a sexual relationship with Fraser wasn’t possible and he’d never mentioned the man’s name to his family.
Fraser was leaning against their rented powder blue Honda, holding two steaming take-out cups. At first he’d thought the car was rather small, but having negotiated so many narrow roads, he’d quickly been glad it wasn’t any bigger.
Cam couldn’t help the smile that broke out over his face as he saw Fraser’s bright red hair and cheeky grin.
“Thanks for the coffee.”
“What makes you think one of these is for you? I’ll likely need both of them just to wake up so early.”
Cam laughed. Dammit every time Fraser opened his mouth he fell a little deeper into love with him.

Pre-Order links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078H4ZLPT
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/getting-naughty-2
Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/getting-naughty-suz-demello/1127687384?ean=2940155023661
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Suz_deMello_Getting_Naughty?id=eo1DDwAAQBAJ

Tell Me A Story

A group of male/male romance authors was given this picture and asked to tell a story about it.
Here's what I wrote.

“I don’t even understand why you invited me to come to the conference with you this weekend. You haven’t spent ten seconds in the same room as me all day.” Jayden crossed his bare arms over his naked chest and glowered at Vincent, not even excited to be wearing the brand new teeny-tiny Speedo swimwear he’d raced out to buy when he heard the conference center had a swimming pool and hot tub.
“You knew I was here for work. The company is paying me to attend so they expect me to participate in the various workshops and forums.”
Jay ground his teeth together to stop him from screaming at Vince. It took every ounce of control he had to keep his voice sufficiently low that the people in the next room wouldn’t hear every word he said. “There’s no workshop or forum on now. Your program states ‘Free Time. Please avail yourselves of our facilities.’ The swimming pool is a facility and you know I said I was looking forward to using it.”
Jay bit his lip. He’d had such high hopes about this weekend away. Vince held a senior management position with TekiSolutionz, and he often worked late nights and all through the weekend. They had so little time together that when Vince had asked him to come to this conference he hadn’t begrudged a cent of the money it’d cost him to buy several new shirts, neckties, and even new shoes so he’d look appropriately attired to be a senior manager’s partner.
But this free time was precious. He’d had such high hopes of the moments they’d spend in each other’s others arms in the few brief breaks in the program. It would be the pay off for him sitting silent and bored beside Vince for hours and hours during the formal presentations and speeches tomorrow night.
Vince shook his head. “Jay, I never promised to spend the free time with you. I’ve gotten permission to use Breakout Room Three with one of the sound system engineers and a video tech to practice my presentation for tomorrow night. They’re going to record me so I can watch the tape and see what I need to improve. You know how important it is to me to impress our major clients and stakeholders tomorrow.”
“Of course I know. You’ve been talking about it nonstop for weeks. But what about me? When will you be able to squeeze me into your life?”
“You’re already in my life. You know I love you. I invited you here in public as my partner.”
“Yes, but we’ve hardly seen each other. When are we actually going to exchange a sentence with each other?”
“We could do that now if you’d stop pouting and acting like I’m standing you up.”
Just then Vince’s cell phone beeped.
“Gotta run. That’s the sound tech ready for me. I’ll see you for dinner tonight. It’s formal remember. At seven, in the ballroom.”
Jay nodded, but Vince wasn’t even looking. He was already halfway out the door on his way to his next appointment. Jay dropped back onto the bed. That’s the way it was far too often. Vince rushing from an important meeting to an even more important meeting. Him coming home from his very ordinary job to cook dinner for them both even though he knew that half the time Vince wouldn’t come home to eat it and the rest of the time it wouldn’t taste nice anyway because it’d gone cold and been reheated hours later.
Was that going to be all his life held from now on? Snatches of Vince’s time when his work didn’t come first? Himself just a space filler for when Vince’s career was up-to-date? Vince said he loved him, but was that enough to live on?

* * * *

Vince had trouble putting Jay’s sad face out of his mind so he could concentrate on his work. It was even harder trying to forget the bright pink and black swimwear he’d been wearing. It didn’t leave much to the imagination and Vince would enjoy freeing Jay’s mighty fine cock from the tiny piece of fabric and tasting him.
But not now. Tomorrow night was vital for his career. Only four of the senior managers would be giving a presentation at the formal dinner and he was one of them. He absolutely had to give such an honor every ounce of his effort and attention. No way could he risk stumbling over his words or not producing a smooth, engrossing speech. This rehearsal was very important to him. Only by watching a video of himself would he genuinely know if he’d gotten his timing or actions wrong or if his words didn’t come out how he wanted them to.
But he hated that Jay was sad. Vince knew he’d been ignoring Jay lately. Well, not ignoring him precisely. No one could ever ignore such a delicious hunk of premium manhood. But maybe taking him for granted somewhat. He did need to change up his game and come home on time more often. Or at least text Jay with the time he actually would be home. It was rude to expect dinner to be cooked for him and then not turn up. He did need to act better toward Jay.
He mentally ran through his speech, and then stood on the stage and gave the presentation as if he were in the ballroom. The sound crew clapped him at the end, but he wasn’t sure if they were being polite, or if they’d liked his speech. However when they replayed the video, he had come across well. Now he just had to worry that he wouldn’t fuck-up on the night. Wasn’t there some saying or other that the worse the dress rehearsal went, the better the performance usually was? Oh shit, maybe this hadn’t been such a brilliant idea after all.
“Thank you all for helping me out,” Vince said to the sound crew.
“No problem. We still have over an hour before we need to start setting up for the dinner tonight.”
“Really? I thought it’d take longer.”
“You were as smooth as silk. You’ve got time to get a coffee or whatever before preparing for tonight’s program.”
“Thanks. I might do that.”
But instead of going downstairs to the coffee shop, he went up to the rooftop swimming pool. He half expected to find Jay lying on a sun bed sipping some exotic drink, or maybe surrounded by men lusting after him in that tiny sexy pink piece of fabric.
Instead, Jay had evidently been swimming. He was in the middle of the pool stretching. Damn, he looked delicious. The yummiest hunk of man on planet Earth. Without stopping to think Vince raced down the steps and into the swimming pool, and marched across to Jay, pulling him into his arms and kissing him.
“I love you, Jay. I promise to spend more time with you.”
Jay jumped up, wrapping his legs around Vince’s waist. “I love you, too, Vince, but that suit isn’t going to like being in chlorinated water. Why didn’t you change into your board shorts first?”
“I didn’t want to waste a single minute when I could be with you. I promise to be better about letting you know when I’m free, and spending every spare second of my life with you.”
“Every spare second, hmm? How can a man resist such a wonderful offer?”
Vince tightened his grip on Jay as Jay kissed him back with so much promise if he hadn’t been waist deep in water they’d have been arrested for what might happen next.

Berengaria Brown

Blog: http://berengariasblog.blogspot.com/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Berengaria-Brown/e/B00541R3YQ/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/berengaria.brown?fref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BerengariaBrown

Playing the "What If?" game. Ian and Billy's story

Last summer talented author Stormy Glenn set up a game of “What If”. She wrote the opening paragraphs to a story and invited more than twenty other authors to each finish the story however they wished.

Participating was a lot of fun, and each author finished the story in their own unique way.
This is what Stormy wrote:

He felt a warm glow flow through him as Ian’s hands stroked down his sides. Every time Ian’s hazel eyes met his, Billy’s heart turned over in response. His pulse pounded. A delightful shiver of wanting ran through him. He tossed his head back and groaned.
Ian’s touch always affected him this way. It had from the first day he laid eyes on the man when they were just kids in second grade. Ian Thomas was Billy’s knight in shining armor, protecting him from all the evils on the playground.
“Ian,” Billy gasped. His need for Ian overrode everything in his world, maybe even his need to breathe. Ian was everything Billy had ever wanted, ever desired. Being here in his arms felt like heaven on earth.
“I’ll take care of you, Billy,” Ian whispered back, “I’ve always taken care of you, haven’t I?”
“Yes,” Billy hissed. He curled into the curve of Ian’s body, pressing his hard cock against the man’s abdomen. He buried his face in the corded muscles of Ian’s chest, overwhelmed by the desire burning through him.
A large hand took his face and held it gently. Soft lips nipped at his. “I’ll always take care of you, Billy.”
Billy turned his head and pressed a kiss into Ian’s hand before giving his response. “Ian,” He whimpered again. “I need you, Ian.”
“I’m here for you, Billy.”
His touch, firm and persuasive, invited Billy to lean into a kiss that curled his toes with its intensity. Ian’s lips were warm and sweet against Billy’s, reminding him of honey and sunshine.
“Ian, love.”
“Yes, Billy.”
“Billy…”
“BILLY! Wake the hell up!”

And this is how I finished the story:

Billy startled awake, his pleasant dreams of being in bed with Ian, about to be fucked by Ian, suddenly shattered as his bleary eyes opened to see them both still on the damn airplane.
His cock pressed hard against his jeans and he longed to rearrange his equipment, but Ian’s gaze was still fixed on him and told him he must have said or done something embarrassing as he slept. Make that something more embarrassing than just having his head on Ian’s shoulder, faint traces of drool on his lips, and jeans that were currently much too tight in the crotch.
“What’s up?”
Ian’s gaze flicked to the person on Billy’s other side. An older, weedy little man pressed hard against the far side of his seat, putting as much space between himself and Billy as possible on an overcrowded Boeing 767.
Billy pasted his most endearing smile on his face and apologized. “I’m sorry. I must have been dreaming.”
The man didn’t seem appeased. Billy raised an eyebrow at Ian but he didn’t say anything. Maybe he couldn’t until they were alone.
Billy tapped the screen on the seatback TV showing their flight route and saw that they’d almost arrived. At least that was good news. Besides, what could he have been doing that was so bad? Well, apart from the massive hard-on and dreams of being in bed with Ian.
Which is when he remembered why they were on the airplane, and where they were going. Back to their childhood. Back to the horrors of grade school. Back to Mississippi, one of the least gay-friendly states in the US.
And once again he wished he’d been strong enough to refuse to attend this reunion no matter how much his family and friends had begged him to return.

* * * *

Ian smiled reassuringly at Billy. Yes, at thirty-three he was still Billy. Not Bill and definitely not William. Ian knew how much Billy hadn’t wanted to come to their school reunion but so many people had Facebooked them begging them to attend, and both sets of parents, his and Billy’s, had demanded they return, that here they were. It was the centenary of the school district with an entire week of celebrations planned.
It was fifteen years since they’d left, driving away together in a beat-up old Ford piled high with all their possessions. The first few years hadn’t been easy, studying and working, but they’d been together and that was enough for both of them. He’d had a full scholarship for track, and Billy had won a part-scholarship in poetry. The weird thing was, it had been Billy who’d paid their way in the end, winning an award for a poem he’d sent into a magazine, hoping for a hundred dollars if they printed it, and winning ten thousand instead.
New York was their home now, a city packed with gay bars, and gay friendly events, so different from their home town. Ian stared at Billy, hoping he’d be strong, hoping this wasn’t going to be a terrible mistake. Ian wanted it to be the catharsis that would free Billy from his fears of the past. That would make him strong again, to go out and conquer the world with his brilliant, evocative, mesmerizing words.
“Ready?” he asked smiling at his lover.
Billy stared at him, a worried frown on his face. “I should have bought a plain lounge suit. These clothes are fine for our normal parties but I don’t know—”
Ian hugged him gently. “We decided we would be ourselves this week. No acting, no pretending. We’re adults now with worthwhile careers and our own lives. Remember?”
Billy sighed. “In theory that sounds fine. But in practice I’m not so sure.”
Ian gripped his shoulders, willing Billy to look into his gaze. “You’re a success. You did what you always wanted to do, and you’ve made a good life for yourself. Hell, kids in school have to read your poetry now.”
Billy giggled with some of his normal enthusiasm. “That’s a fitting punishment for anyone to suffer.”
“Exactly. Now let’s go. Chin up and look them in the eye if they’re rude to you.”
He could feel Billy’s body shivering as he held his arm, so he rubbed his back gently. Ian would have simply raised his middle finger and told anyone who was rude to fuck off, but he knew this was more important than that to Billy. Billy needed to be accepted. It wasn’t enough that he’d proved to the whole world he was a talented poet. The people who really mattered were right here in his home town. They were the ones who’d sneered and laughed at him, who’d teased him and called him names. It was time for payback. Time for them to apologize. Although Ian didn’t think too many of them would. But as long as they accepted Billy and were polite, that’d do. If they were rude Ian would take care of them, as he always had done. He might not be a track star anymore, but he still knew how to punch. Preferably fast and hard before the other guy expected him to.
The limo stopped outside the conference center door, and the driver raced around to open the car door for them. They thanked him and he got back in the limo and drove away, but they just stood there under the starry sky. Ian waited patiently as Billy drew heaving breaths of warm summer night into his lungs.
“Ready?” he asked gently.
“I guess so.”
He didn’t sound very confident. Ian entwined his fingers with Billy’s, and gripped his hand tightly. “You can do it,” he said softly.
A doorman held the conference center door open for them, and then marched staidly across the marble floored foyer to two huge wooden doors. He waited until Billy nodded before opening the door on the right. Hand in hand they walked in to a huge room that was packed with maybe a thousand guests, the women in glittering ball gowns, the men in tuxedos and dress suits.
Across the stage in huge rainbow colored letters was a sign. “Welcome home, Billy. Hilltown’s most famous son.”
A thousand people stomped their feet and clapped their hands in unison, chanting, “Bill-y, Bill-y, Bill-y!”
Ian’s eyes filled with tears and his heart almost burst with pride. Hell yes. At last Billy was being awarded the honor that was his due. His nervous, emotional, immensely talented lover had been accepted for himself at last.

I have a male/male romance in “Naughty Haunts” called “Were the Hell” and one in “Naughty Flings” called, “The Loch Ness Monster, Romeo and Julio”.

Septimus has to learn why no female weres have been born into his pack. When he walks into the meeting room he smells his mate. A male.

Buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Naughty-Haunts-Eleven-Spooky-Stories-ebook/dp/B01KL51ILI/

Fraser Campbell and Cameron MacDonald are sent to Glasgow on business. Cam’s determined to see the Loch Ness monster. Fraser just wants Cam.

Buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Naughty-Flings-Twelve-Little-Romps-ebook/dp/B00X8D6E6U/

Berengaria Brown

Blog: http://berengariasblog.blogspot.com/
Bookstrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/berengaria-brown
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Berengaria-Brown/e/B00541R3YQ/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/berengaria.brown?fref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BerengariaBrown

The Surfer and the Bad Boy: A free read for you!

The Surfer and the Bad Boy

Wade jumped off his surf board and splashed through the shallow water onto the sand. He stood right on the edge of the ocean shaking the water out of his hair, relishing the burning hot sun on his shoulders, and squinting his eyes against the glare to see along the top of the sand dunes.
Yes. He was right. The big, black-haired bad boy was still standing there, and still staring right at him.
Wade shoved a hand through his hair, scraping the last of it off his face, and using the action to focus even more on Bad Boy. Damn, the man was delicious. Built. Oh, how he was built. Broad shoulders, thickly muscled biceps, and washboard abs clearly visible through his unbuttoned leather vest. Everything Wade liked best all packaged together with so much attitude he could almost taste it across fifty feet of sand. Somehow Bad Boy didn’t strike Wade as the usual kind of person who watched surfers. Apart from the beach bunny women who drooled over toned male bodies, most of the rest of the viewers were fascinated by the surfers’ action on the waves. But Bad Boy seemed different. It was almost as if he was looking right inside Wade, measuring his innermost self.
Despite the scorching sun Wade shivered. Huh. He must be imagining it. Obviously he’d used up too many calories out on the water and his blood sugar was too low. A beer and a couple of hot dogs would solve that problem.
Wade strode up the dune to his truck, ripped open the Velcro ankle tie and hefted his surfboard into the truckbed, laying it on the old blanket he always kept there. His board was the best he could afford and he didn’t want it damaged.
“Niiiice,” rumbled a very sexy deep bass voice right behind his ear.
Wade whipped around. Bad Boy was standing an inch away from him. How had he gotten here so silently? Hastily he took a breath and replied. “It’s a Christenson. Chris shaped it for me personally.”
“I meant you, not the board, although it’s okay I guess.”
“Okay? Just okay? It—” Wade snapped his mouth shut and tried to stem his anger. That damn board had cost him a shitload of money and it was damn-near perfect. In fact, not even damn-near. It was perfect. Wade forced himself to take another breath and that’s when he saw the sparkling light in Bad Boy’s black eyes and realized he was being teased. Also, Bad Boy had complemented him. As if his physique was anything like as awesome as Bad Boy’s.
“My name’s Wade.” He stuck out his hand.
“Killian. Good to meet you, blondie.”
Killian’s hand was rough as if from hard physical labor, his grip firm but not bone crushing. And his voice was every bit as sexy as the first time he’d spoken.
“You’re interested in surfing?”
“A little I guess. Mostly I’m interested in you.”
“Me?”
Bad Boy gripped Wade’s hand more firmly and Wade stared at their hands, surprised that the clasp was somehow erotic rather than formal. Killian’s hand was as tanned as his own, but larger, firmer. A vision of that hand spanking his ass shot through Wade’s mind and he almost drooled with lust. Wow. He really needed to get his head on straight before he said or did something stupid.
“It’s too damn hot out here. Let’s go get a beer somewhere air conditioned.”
A beer sounded good to Wade. “I was just about to get some lunch as well. There’s a great hot dog stand just along the bluff. No air conditioning though.”
Killian finally let go of Wade’s hand and slapped him on his shoulder. “As long as I can get out of the sun I’ll survive.”
Wade grabbed a towel and his flip-flops out of the truck, grinning at the horrified look on Killian’s face when he slipped his wet, sandy feet into the plastic footwear. “Normally I go barefoot but sometimes there’re bits of metal or glass up near the road,” he explained.
“Flip-flops? Seriously? Real men don’t wear flip-flops.” The bass rumble was every bit as horrified as the look on Bad Boy’s face.
“Bare feet are my thing. Really.” Wade led the way to the hot dog stand, waving at the owner and holding up two fingers. The kid waved back and handed him two fully loaded hot dogs, then pulled two ice-cold longnecks out from under the counter. Wade carried them across to a table under an umbrella where Killian was sitting in the shade. Wade handed over a hot dog and a beer to Killian, placed his own food on the table, then dropped his towel onto the chair before sitting down.
“It’s plastic. It doesn’t matter if you get it wet.”
“I know, but some of the chairs are metal and I don’t need a burned ass.” Even as he said the words the image of Bad Boy’s big hands spanking him shot into his mind again and he swallowed hard. What the fuck was wrong with him? He didn’t even know this man.
Rushing to change the subject he asked, “Are you just here for the Fourth of July holiday? The fireworks won’t begin until ten tonight. Sunset is close to nine and it’s not really dark for half an hour after that.”

****

Killian stared into Wade’s eyes. They were the dark blue of the ocean near the horizon. A deep, penetrating color that rocked him all the way to his core. He’d started off by watching the way blondie surfed. His body moved on that board like a dancer over the waves. The sea appeared to part to let him though, offering him a smooth, graceful ride all the way into the shore. But the closer the surfer came to him, the more Killian could see the sheer muscular strength that held Wade’s body in pace. Arms outstretched for balance, legs braced to turn the board as the waves rolled by, all in complete balance and harmony. Fuck yes, blondie made it look so easy but Killian knew that was totally deceiving. If he tried to do it he’d fall off the board in ten seconds and likely break half the bones in his body as well. And that was if he didn’t drown. No. Surfing took skill, balance, precision, toughness of body and mind. All characteristics that turned him on, and blondie here turned him on in spades. It took everything in him not to slam Wade face down on the table and fuck him. Or maybe throw him to the ground and suck his cock until he screamed and begged for more.
Killian swallowed hard. “I’m here to watch the fireworks with you, and then we can make some fireworks of our own. Private ones.” He kept his gaze fixed on Wade as he spoke, watching the gleam in those blue eyes, the smile tilting the edges of his mouth up at the corners, the faint blush spreading across blondie’s tanned face.
“Fireworks huh? That sounds like the kind of plan I could agree to.”
“In that case I’d better get us each another hot dog. We’re going to need the extra calories.”
Wade grinned. “Better pick up a couple of apple pies as well for the sugar hit.”
Killian’s breath hitched. Fuck waiting for tonight. He jumped to his feet and pulled Wade against him, lowering his mouth for a kiss. Wade’s lips were soft and salty, then hard and passionate. Absolutely perfect.

Berengaria has Male/Male romance stories in:
"Naughty Hearts":
Print: http://www.amazon.com/Naughty-Hearts-Twelve-Valentines-Stories/dp/150759433X/
Amazon: http://indi.uno/1BH3Uxu
B&N: http://indi.uno/1uNNYHa
Kobo: http://indi.uno/1LwR8cY
Google: http://indi.uno/1EWHmMP
iTunes: http://indi.uno/18DSyDw

"Naughty Flings": http://www.amazon.com/Naughty-Flings-Twelve-Little-Romps-ebook/dp/B00X8D6E6U/

"Naughty Escapes":
http://www.amazon.com/Naughty-Escapes-Eleven-Vacation-Getaways-ebook/dp/B00ZJJ1QSC/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1434251533&sr=1-1&keywords=Naughty+Escapes

Berengaria Brown’s links:
Bookstrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/berengaria-brown
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Berengaria-Brown/e/B00541R3YQ/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/berengaria.brown?fref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BerengariaBrown
ARe: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html?searchBy=author&qString=Berengaria+Brown

Romance in Exotic Destinations

Over the years my day job has involved a lot of travel, not just inside the state, or even in the United States, but around the world.
Now, before you start jealously sticking pins in a wax Berengaria doll, please remember that I went to these places for WORK. Mostly what I saw was a lot of airports, and far too many conference rooms, which all look pretty much the same. Sometimes I couldn’t even remember where I was because the surroundings were so similar to everywhere else. Think McDonalds. The McDonalds in Cleveland looks the same as the McDonalds in Akron, looks the same as the McDonalds in Baltimore, and in London, Paris, Nairobi—I’m sure you get the picture.
But every now and then I managed to carve out a few days of sightseeing between business meetings and to actually enjoy visiting the places where I was.
Like many authors, I’m always thinking “what if?” One day I thought, “What if a travel company sent people around the world looking for love? Where would they go?”
The characters that immediately arrived in my head clamoring for their happy ending were all male. I write MM, FF, ménage, and MF so I’m used to writing the HEA the characters demand, but I hadn’t actually pictured a Gay Travel agency, until I began to think how awesome that might be. And what problems gay lovers might have finding romance around the world.
It was hard to narrow down my favorite destinations to just four very different places, all extremely romantic. But hey, that leaves open the possibility that one day in the future, Tyler Robbins might decide to send out more men in search of their own romance.

Gay Travel Inc. Book 1: Gay Lovers in Paris (MM) by Berengaria Brown

Blurb: Sean Zagorc’s boss, Tyler Robbins the owner of Gay Travel Inc., sends him to Paris to write about gay romance in the City of Lovers. Tyler expects him to send multiple tweets every day about romantic scenery, romantic venues, romantic meals, romantic everything. How can Sean do that without a partner?
Elementary school teacher Antoine Dupre nursed both his elderly parents until they passed. Now he has a week’s vacation in Paris before selling the family home and finding a job. He’s on a very strict budget, and plans to spend most of his time in the Louvre looking at the exhibits.
Fate brings them together and Antoine is attracted to the American in the business suit. He agrees to help Sean take a few pictures, maybe spend a day together visiting somewhere suitable for Sean’s work like the Eiffel Tower. That should be romantic enough for Tyler, shouldn't it?

Buy link: http://www.bookstrand.com/book/gay-lovers-in-paris

Gay Travel Inc. Book 2: Gay Lovers on Safari (MM) by Berengaria Brown
Tyler Robbins, the owner of Gay Travel Inc., decides to send four of his best—and single—travel agents to different continents to report on romantic travel venues. He sends Preston Bennetts to Kenya on a safari. Preston is excited by the idea until he discovers that homosexuality is illegal in Kenya. How is he supposed to complete his assignment? Fortunately he meets Austin and Ryan Holder. Austin has always wanted to visit Africa and Ryan has accompanied him because the old man is getting frail. But they’re both great company and Ryan agrees to help Preston.
Their constant search for romantic photo opportunities has Preston and Ryan thinking lustful thoughts about each other. That absolutely can’t happen in Kenya though. Any sign of gay activity could have them sent to jail.
Will taking pictures of the Big Five game animals satisfy Tyler and prevent Preston and Ryan from touching each other?

Buy link: http://www.bookstrand.com/book/gay-lovers-on-safari

Gay Travel Inc. book 3: Gay Lovers Down Under (MM) by Berengaria Brown

Blurb: Tyler Robbins, the owner of Gay Travel Inc., decides to send four of his best—and single—travel agents to different continents to report on romantic travel venues there. Quentin Wood is sent to Australia but after twenty-two hours of flights and a fourteen hour time zone change he’s exhausted. Add to that he can’t understand a word of the mangled English his guide, Justin Cook, uses.
Juz likes the look of his sexy new client, if he’d just relax a little. Juz is determined to show the man he calls Woody all the sights, including some more intimate personal ones.
Quentin can’t get his head around the idea of driving two thousand miles in two days to visit some place where the temperature sits above one hundred degrees for six months straight. Tyler has sent him to Hell. But if this is Hell, that means Justin’s the devil, and he’s a mighty attractive devil.

Buy link: http://www.bookstrand.com/book/gay-lovers-down-under


For a boxed set of erotic vacation getaways, get your copy of Naughty Escapes: Eleven Naughty Vacation Getaways by the Naughty Literati. Take a naughty trip around the world with us to a penthouse playroom in San Francisco, the shore of Lake Superior, a deserted island in The Bermuda Triangle, a mob-controlled nightclub in pre-revolutionary Havana, along a river near Cambridge in England, a sex club in Paris, a nude beach in Barcelona, the ancient Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza, a villa overlooking Lake Como in Italy, a honeymoon in Berlin, and a swanky condo in Zurich.

Berengaria Brown’s links:
Blog: http://berengariasblog.blogspot.com/
Bookstrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/berengaria-brown
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Berengaria-Brown/e/B00541R3YQ/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/berengaria.brown?fref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BerengariaBrown
ARe: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html?searchBy=author&qString=Berengaria+Brown

Emeralds to protect you

My birthstone is an amethyst. Amethysts are pale and pretty, but I’ve always preferred more vibrant colors. Sapphires, rubies, and emeralds. Especially emeralds. There’s no prize for guessing my favorite color is green.

A little while ago I wrote a series of three books, the Gemstone Romances. Each romance story featured a different gemstone which was pivotal to the romance. In the first book, “Courage and Comfort” the two heroes had to find an aquamarine to bring courage and comfort to Edmund’s tragically widowed sister, Mavis.

But in “Protecting You” the heroine, AJ, finds three stones right near the start of the book. The problem is, she’s hopelessly in love with a man already in a relationship with someone else, and she would never break up a relationship. AJ has the three stones she’s found, but can’t figure out the meaning of them.

One of the stones is an emerald. For hundreds of years emeralds have been considered to bring health and protection to those who have them. Because of their innate healing abilities, emeralds can protect the wearer from poisons, physical danger, and mental distress. By increasing a person’s innate psychic abilities, the emerald enhances their decision making powers and increases their energy.

AJ is psychic. She’s the one who knew finding the aquamarine in the first book would help Mavis. But she doesn’t understand the meaning of the emerald, the onyx, and the piece of amber which she has found herself.

The emerald AJ has found is at the heart of what her future will be. Only a stone as powerful as an emerald could be tough enough to deal with a strong woman like AJ.

“Protecting You” by Berengaria Brown:
AJ has psychic abilities and knows Drew is her soul mate. But bisexual Drew flits from partner to partner. At the moment he’s with Kristien, and Kristien is very much in love with Drew. AJ can’t bear the thought that the only way for her to achieve happiness is to break Kristien’s heart.
She invites them both to join her and her friends at the beach for a few days, hoping to get closer to Drew. A rocky wall calls to her, and when she climbs up, she explores a cave and is led to three stones—an onyx, an emerald, and amber.
What do they mean?

Buy Links: http://www.evernightpublishing.com/protecting-you-by-berengaria-brown/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Protecting-You-Gemstone-Romances-Book-ebook/dp/B00KR2HG2G
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-protectingyou-1532693-145.html

Sometimes my characters just don't listen to me! They wander off and do their own thing instead of following my plot outline. "Protecting You" is part of the "Gemstone Romances" series. In fact, it's book 2. Both the first and third books are MM romances, but no, AJ is a woman and it appears it takes two men to protect her from what happens next.

The "Gemstone Romances", "Courage and Comfort", and book 3, "A Rainbow of Happiness", aren't my only MM romances. I have an MM story in the latest Naughty Literati boxed set.

Here's a taste of "Perfectly Presented" which is part of "Naughty Chances".
Excerpt, Perfectly Presented by Berengaria Brown

Blake stood and walked behind Xavier’s chair, resting his hands gently on Xavier’s shoulders, and then massaging them. Xavier felt his tight muscles loosen a little as Blake’s fingers dug into the tense tissues, working on the knots, Blake’s thumbs pressing and rolling into each bump.
Xavier rotated his neck and head, and then leaned forward, relaxing into Blake’s firm touch. “Hmm, that feels good.”
Blake moved his hands around, pressing and working all the stiff areas until there were no hard lumps left. His hands stilled momentarily before he slid them down Xavier’s back and up under his sweater and shirt. They glided over the taut back muscles, up Xavier’s spine and around over his sides, down, then up again. This time his fingers moved around to the solid chest wall.
Blake’s fingers stilled over Xavier’s nipples, the firm little discs already standing to attention.
Xavier stood, turned into Blake’s arms, and wrapped his own around Blake. “Maybe it’s time to move this party into the bedroom?” The two men were almost the same height, a mere fraction under six feet, so Xavier tilted his head to the side to kiss his friend.
The kiss was sweet and gentle, a brief butterfly touching of lips to lips, until Blake grabbed Xavier’s head and held it still so he could lick along the seam of Xavier’s mouth. As Xavier opened up, Blake’s tongue slid inside, teasing and tasting and testing. First along the insides of his cheeks, then behind his teeth, and finally to tangle and dance with Xavier’s tongue.
Blake’s fingers burrowed into Xavier’s black hair where it curled on his collar at the back of his neck.
Blake stroked the neck underneath the curls, angling the other man’s mouth more fully over his own, then sucked Xavier’s tongue into his own mouth.
When they finally drew apart, both men were panting, not just from lack of oxygen, but also from the power and passion of their kisses.
Blake pulled Xavier hard against him from hips to chest, his arms like steel bands around the other man. Their cocks rubbed against each other, two long, hard ridges, their heat obvious even through the layers of clothing. “Want you. Need you,” he whispered.
“Hell, yeah. I want you, too.”


Naughty Chances Buy Link: http://tinyurl.com/NaughtyChances

Berengaria Brown
Blog: http://berengariasblog.blogspot.com/
Bookstrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/berengaria-brown
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Berengaria-Brown/e/B00541R3YQ/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/berengaria.brown?fref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BerengariaBrown
ARe: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html?searchBy=author&qString=Berengaria+Brown

NaNoWriMo 2015 Winner! by Regina Kammer

Once again I am a NaNoWriMo Winner!

This was my 10th year participating in National Novel Writing Month. I wrote the foundations of The Viscount and the Veteran: An American Federalist Tale, the follow-up novel to The General’s Wife: An American Revolutionary Tale.

If you can't wait until The Viscount and the Veteran is completed, edited, submitted, and published and need your bisexual male/male romance fix now, I've got you covered with "Winter Interlude: An American Revolutionary Novelette" my story in The Naughty Literati's Naughty Chances: Take A Chance On Romance. "Winter Interlude" is a companion piece to The General’s Wife: An American Revolutionary Tale, delving into the relationship between Captain Samuel Taylor and Lieutenant Patrick Hamilton.

So what did I learn this year during NaNoWriMo 2015?

- It’s always best to end a day’s writing session with notes about what comes next.
Corollary comment: It is so great when the writing flows and a scene comes together, characters are changed, plot moved forward. But the previous night’s victory is dampened by the looming realization the next morning that, OMG, you have no idea what happens next.

- I really, really, really need to tamp down the inner editor. I try to by putting stuff I need to research or edit in [square brackets] and forgetting about it. It doesn’t always work.

- I am a combination of plotter and pantser: perhaps the word is “plotser” or “pantster”. But I do need that next-morning crutch of what comes next. So the pantser needs a plot plan, even if that plot plan is formulated a minute after the pantsing has finished.

- 50,000 words is basically a really detailed outline.

- I learn the same lessons year after year. I really need to pay attention to my inner writer!

If you want to see how my November progressed on Twitter, I've captured the tweets on my blog.

I encourage everyone who has ever wanted to write a novel to take the National Novel Writing Month challenge. If you can't wait until November 2016, the same organization runs Camp NaNoWriMo in April and July. Your voice needs to be heard and your characters need to come to life!

About the Author

Regina Kammer is a librarian, an art historian, and an award-nominated, best-selling, multi-published writer of erotica and historical erotic romance. Her short stories and novels make history sexier, whether the era is Roman, Byzantine, Viking, American Revolution, or Victorian. She’s even sexed up contemporary settings, Steampunk, and Greco-Roman mythology. She has been published by Cleis Press, Go Deeper Press, Ellora’s Cave, House of Erotica, Story Ink, The Naughty Literati, and her own imprint, Viridium Press. She began writing historical fiction with romantic elements during National Novel Writing Month 2006, switching to erotica when all her characters suddenly demanded to have sex.

Keep up with Regina on her website

Follow her on Twitter @Kammerotica

Or Google+

Like her on Facebook

Connect with her on Goodreads

See what’s new on her Amazon Author Page

An American Revolutionary NaNoWriMo by Regina Kammer

2015 will be my 10th year doing NaNoWriMo and I’m revisiting some of my favorite characters I’ve created during the event, plus adding another hero and heroine into the mix. Back this year are Clara, Sam, Constance, and Pat from The General's Wife: An American Revolutionary Tale. Joining them will be Clara's brother – Oliver Hastings, the Viscount Thornton – and a family friend, Lady Eleanor Ormundsley.

The story takes place in 1784, six years after the end of The General's Wife. It will also be a historical erotic romance, with a male/male relationship at its core. The working title is: The Viscount and the Veteran: An American Federalist Tale.

For more about the project you can visit my NaNoWriMo author page, or my NaNoPrep blog post, which has a couple of "inspirational" photos of the hero Oliver.

If you want to keep up with my progress I’m planning on having updates on Twitter and Facebook, but probably not so much on my blog. You can also check out my NaNoWriMo author page to see how I'm progressing in my word count.

The General's Wife: An American Revolutionary Tale and The Viscount and the Veteran: An American Federalist Tale both tie in to what's coming up next from me and the Naughty Literati! My upcoming story for our winter anthology Naughty Chances: Take a Chance on Romance will be "Winter Interlude: An American Revolutionary Novelette", a sort of prequel to The General's Wife. "Winter Interlude" is also a male/male erotic romance wherein we discover a little bit more about the relationship between Captain Samuel Taylor and Lieutenant Patrick Hamilton. (There's a little hint of this in the excerpt.)

Need your American Revolution erotic romance fix now? The General's Wife is available in mobi, paperback, and epub at these retailers:
Amazon USA, Barnes & Noble/Nook Press, All Romance eBooks, Kobo, iBooks (iTunes), CreateSpace (paperback), Amazon USA (paperback).

About the Author

Regina Kammer is a librarian, an art historian, and an award-nominated, best-selling, multi-published writer of erotica and historical erotic romance. Her short stories and novels make history sexier, whether the era is Roman, Byzantine, Viking, American Revolution, or Victorian. She’s even sexed up contemporary settings, Steampunk, and Greco-Roman mythology. She has been published by Cleis Press, Go Deeper Press, Ellora’s Cave, House of Erotica, Story Ink, The Naughty Literati, and her own imprint, Viridium Press. She began writing historical fiction with romantic elements during National Novel Writing Month 2006, switching to erotica when all her characters suddenly demanded to have sex.

Keep up with Regina on her website

Follow her on Twitter @Kammerotica

Or Google+

Like her on Facebook

Connect with her on Goodreads

See what’s new on her Amazon Author Page

Writing Through Stress

 This seems like the perfect time for this post, as my life is very stressful and I’m trying to write through it.

Stress can be a career killer.

I had this happen in the past. Due to some incredibly stressful situations in my worklife, I didn’t write original fiction for almost seven years. Oh, I tried. At first, daily, and then, when it got to be too hard, I didn’t open up the manuscript for weeks. It was this black cloud hanging over me and I didn’t seem to be able to get beyond that to write anything. The stories were in my head, but my anxiety didn’t allow me to move forward.

Last August, my job situation changed. I was laid off with zero notice, and as I was a contractor, there were no benefits, no unemployment to claim. To make matters worse, several months of pay were in limbo for months.

Stress Number One, achieved.

Since then, I’ve been dealing with a major medical crisis—two actually, I’m an overachiever, have lost three of my cats, have set up a new business, and a couple of weeks ago, my husband lost his job with two days notice, no severance package, nada, not even payment of expenses owed :/

So…stress upon stress central here at Casa Alexa. You’d think that if one situation (above) had blocked my writing, this would have paralyzed my muse and had her rocking in a corner somewhere, right?

You’d be wrong. For some reason—some blessing in my psyche I don’t even dare to understand—I’m writing more than ever. I’m writing so much that I’m astounding myself, my word count spreadsheets are showing wear and tear, and my poor hands are begging for someone to save them.

This time, my muse is far from rocking in a corner, she’s dancing a jig and throwing me plot ideas faster than I can jot them down. And I couldn’t be happier. Writing is a huge stress relief, a way for me to get out of my present worries and into someone else’s issues.

I wrote my Naughty Escapes story—Get Away—in two days. Yes, two days! The story is 13,000 words and even my beta reader couldn’t keep up with my productivity. She finally threw her hands up and said she’d read it at the end rather than a s a work in progress. I chewed my nails down to bloody nubs wondering if Kell and Bry would strike a chord with her. She’s a tough beta, so I expected the worst. What I got back was anything but. She loved the story. And furthermore, she…er…“encouraged” me, with help from my evil little muse, to write a follow up story for them, and maybe even another story featuring Kell’s sexy guitar player, Ace. I’ll be revisiting Kell and Bry in the Naughty Literati fall anthology, coming in September.

It is funny how my workplace stress caused my writing to grind to a halt, while my homelife stress, which is so much larger in scope and impact, is giving me more inspiration to write.

The brain is a funny funny thing!

To check out the story of Kell, a former boyband singer, and Bry, an A-List Hollywood actor, check out Get Away in Naughty Escapes, out now!