How I Became an Erotic Romance Author
I was born to write erotic romance. All
my life, my imagination has been rife with made up stories of love and
passion. It just took me umpteen years to discover that I should write
the stories down.
I started out by falling in love with the TV cowboys of the '50s and '60s - Nick Barkley, Little Joe Cartwright, Sugarfoot, Cheyenne Bodie, Colt 45, Johnny Ringo, The Deputy (my beloved Henry Fonda). Come on, I can't be the only one who remembers these names. My fantasies ran toward getting the hunks in hay lofts or deserted cabins in hot, romantic, sexual situations. I skipped right over young adult fiction, going from horse stories in the children's section of the library, straight to the adult stacks. My mother had no clue that I was reading about seraglios and sheiks. I was getting quite an eduction that only inflamed my already vivid, imaginative, secret self.
Through the years I didn't write, but I didn't turn my imagination off either. A few years ago, I told a friend a story about a young woman rancher in the Old West -- hmm -- wonder where that came from? The woman had been kidnapped by her evil ranch foreman (named after an evil ex-boyfriend) and tied to a tree so said foreman could get some sleep. The tying part really got me. Where was this coming from? I didn't want to be tied up -- at least not by the bad guy. ;-) The vivid story, with a plot, characters, and, yes, love scenes with the handsome cowboy hero wasn't just a fantasy, it was bigger than that. My friend casually suggested, "Why don't you write it?"
How simple. How right. Could I do it? Should I? I don't like to start something if I don't think I can finish it, and I had a history of, once in a while, taking a big risk and having it work out. The idea had me by the throat. I bought a spiral notebook and put pen to paper.
Whoo-ee! I knew with the first scene that I'd "found myself." At first I was self-conscious about it, especially the love scenes, with doubts and insecurities settling in. I was always confident in my story making skills but the technical needed help. I didn't know that until I joined RWA and some on-line loops. I just wrote madly for the absolutely blooming joy of it.
I believe I am fairly adept in writing love scenes. I see myself as a camera circling the couple; catching a brush of lips; a nip on an inner thigh; the trail of fingers along a silken-skinned, hard, hot shaft; the cupping of a lush, soft breast. All the little details and those beautiful descriptive words - swollen, pink, moist, muscular chest, delicate sac, glittering gazes, eyes glazed in pleasure are so thrilling to write. Then the thrust, the wet, delicious, erotic slide, the fullness as two lovers are finally joined. The massaging of inner muscles that the hero feels as he's buried deeply within the heroine. I can feel all this as a woman, but I try very hard to inhabit the man's perspective too.
I have been complimented on my non-sexual, descriptive scenes, but I am most proud of my love scenes. A lot of them come to me when I'm trying to get to sleep at night. I reach up for the pad and pen that are always kept by my bed. I am happiest when a scene passes the "Jane" test and makes me hot. I suffer for my art. ;-) The climax isn't even the best part for me. The journey of lips and teeth and tongue, the tenderness and urgency of fingers touching or gripping. It's love that brings them together with sex the expression of that love.
This type of writing isn't for everyone. That's fine. But for me, erotic romance is my forte and my niche.
I started out by falling in love with the TV cowboys of the '50s and '60s - Nick Barkley, Little Joe Cartwright, Sugarfoot, Cheyenne Bodie, Colt 45, Johnny Ringo, The Deputy (my beloved Henry Fonda). Come on, I can't be the only one who remembers these names. My fantasies ran toward getting the hunks in hay lofts or deserted cabins in hot, romantic, sexual situations. I skipped right over young adult fiction, going from horse stories in the children's section of the library, straight to the adult stacks. My mother had no clue that I was reading about seraglios and sheiks. I was getting quite an eduction that only inflamed my already vivid, imaginative, secret self.
Through the years I didn't write, but I didn't turn my imagination off either. A few years ago, I told a friend a story about a young woman rancher in the Old West -- hmm -- wonder where that came from? The woman had been kidnapped by her evil ranch foreman (named after an evil ex-boyfriend) and tied to a tree so said foreman could get some sleep. The tying part really got me. Where was this coming from? I didn't want to be tied up -- at least not by the bad guy. ;-) The vivid story, with a plot, characters, and, yes, love scenes with the handsome cowboy hero wasn't just a fantasy, it was bigger than that. My friend casually suggested, "Why don't you write it?"
How simple. How right. Could I do it? Should I? I don't like to start something if I don't think I can finish it, and I had a history of, once in a while, taking a big risk and having it work out. The idea had me by the throat. I bought a spiral notebook and put pen to paper.
Whoo-ee! I knew with the first scene that I'd "found myself." At first I was self-conscious about it, especially the love scenes, with doubts and insecurities settling in. I was always confident in my story making skills but the technical needed help. I didn't know that until I joined RWA and some on-line loops. I just wrote madly for the absolutely blooming joy of it.
I believe I am fairly adept in writing love scenes. I see myself as a camera circling the couple; catching a brush of lips; a nip on an inner thigh; the trail of fingers along a silken-skinned, hard, hot shaft; the cupping of a lush, soft breast. All the little details and those beautiful descriptive words - swollen, pink, moist, muscular chest, delicate sac, glittering gazes, eyes glazed in pleasure are so thrilling to write. Then the thrust, the wet, delicious, erotic slide, the fullness as two lovers are finally joined. The massaging of inner muscles that the hero feels as he's buried deeply within the heroine. I can feel all this as a woman, but I try very hard to inhabit the man's perspective too.
I have been complimented on my non-sexual, descriptive scenes, but I am most proud of my love scenes. A lot of them come to me when I'm trying to get to sleep at night. I reach up for the pad and pen that are always kept by my bed. I am happiest when a scene passes the "Jane" test and makes me hot. I suffer for my art. ;-) The climax isn't even the best part for me. The journey of lips and teeth and tongue, the tenderness and urgency of fingers touching or gripping. It's love that brings them together with sex the expression of that love.
This type of writing isn't for everyone. That's fine. But for me, erotic romance is my forte and my niche.
My Fifteenth Book
A few months ago, Ellora's Cave accepted Lost and Found. After editing and huge encouragement from my new editor, the book is being released today!
Searching about for a plot, I came up with a Marine home on
leave. Several of my books feature current or former military men as the hero. Marc
had been raised in Birchwood Falls but left after his parents were killed in an
accident. An only child, he had nothing left to hold him to the town. A decade
later, the belief that their deaths weren't an accident brings him back home.
So, who could attract Marc's attention? Someone completely
opposite from the usual military backdrop. How about Phoebe, orphaned at birth,
a young jazz singer with a fuchsia streak in her hair and one pierced nipple.
The story opens there. One tough, hurt, suspicious warrior
Marine home from Afghanistan and one free spirit entertainer with plans to make
it to the Grammys.
The Official Ellora's Cave Blurb
Hunky Marine Marc
Rahn enlisted after his high school graduation to escape the pain of his
parents’ fatal car wreck. Now on leave after eight years and multiple Middle
East deployments, he returns to his small hometown to put to rest his
suspicions that the “accident” might actually have been anything but.
What he doesn’t
expect is an intriguing flash of a pierced nipple from a new neighbor on
move-in day. The breast’s owner, Phoebe Barnes, is a beautiful young jazz
singer who plans to make it big in the music business. Her early years in
foster care made her hungry for attention and fame, and she’s out to achieve
both at almost any cost.
Despite their
differing paths, Marc and Phoebe quickly give in to the sizzling attraction
between them. But will their passion turn deadly when the person who killed
Marc’s family decides two murders might not have been enough?
A Romantica® suspense erotic romance from
Ellora’s Cave
Lost and Found is available here now - http://www.ellorascave.com/lost-and-found.html
Today you can also find me on Tina Donahue's Blog
and also today an excerpt on my own blog - Jane Leopold Quinn's Blog
My Amazon Author Page with descriptions of all my books - http://amzn.to/1gABLDL
My plans are to write a Birchwood Falls series. I've become obsessed with writing small town America stories. Now let me get back to work. ;-)
Jane Leopold Quinn
My Romance: Love With a
Scorching Sensuality
12 comments:
Fifteen books is something to be proud of. I've read several and this too will be on my list. Best luck for your newest release. May it soar. :)
Thanks, Rose. I'm really proud of all my stories.
Congrats on the new release and the back list. I always struggle with the love scenes until I give into the characters and let them take me where they want to go.
How many of your other stories are set in the same town? And are the characters related in some way?
This is the first story set in this town of Birchwood Falls. The next book, still being written, stars Marc's old high school friend Mike Banning. There are some other secondary characters that need their own stories.
And yes, I let my people do what they want in love scenes. I don't want to leave them mad at me.
Whoo Hoo, Jane. I need a cold drink. Sounds like this one is going to be a winner. I, too, keep a bad and pencil by my bed for early morning thoughts - that's when my erotic fantasies run riot! LOL. Best of luck - Skye Michaels
Thanks, Skye. It was fun to write the story and make the map. I show the map on Tina Donahue's blog today. See here: http://www.tinadonahue.com/lost-and-found-romantic-suspense-guest-post-with-jane-leopold-quinn/comment-page-1/#comment-20677
Sounds like an intense, sexy read, Jane. Just like your post. ;-) Best of luck with it!
Thanks, Brenna. Now I need to follow it up with book 2, huh? ;-)
Another scorcher! Go Jane! You always do a great job of creating a story with all the tenderness - and the heat. LOL
You nailed it when you said 'wrote madly for the absolutely blooming joy of it.' That's writing.
Thank you so much, E! And yes, that's what writing should be - a blooming joy. ;-)
I love the sound of your hero and heroine, Jane, and your post was great! I love to read someone who gets so much enjoyment out of writing. Congratulations on release of Lost and Found!
Thank you, Helena. Isn't writing the best job in the world?
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