Ready to SHIVER?

Halloween is almost here, so I thought I'd drag a skeleton out of the closet. Or maybe a werewolf. I first ran into Emily Veinglory at The Fish Tank about the time her second novella, "Eclipse of the Heart" came out. This homoerotic tale deals with a gay man who's quite comfortable out of the closet.

The werewolf part of him, however, isn't quite so open.



Laura: Can you tell us about "Eclipse of the Heart" and your e-book before that, "Broken Sword"?

Emily: I started to write back in 1998 when I first became aware of 'slash' fan-fiction which created stories about characters on TV and other media, with homoerotic content. My first major story was a 10,000 word melodrama about Sherlock Holmes and Dracula, which frankly contained some stuff that surprised even me. I think that all my stories so far contain a strong dark element whether it is outright paranormal horror of a personal darkness and despair that the characters are struggling with.

I then wrote two Arthurian novellas which were published by a small press called AngelWings. It struck me that I might be able to reach a larger audience, and even make some money. My only novel length work is the frankly self-indulgent "Broken Sword." It contains all the things I adore, men in love, vampires, magic, angst and a dangerous adventure—in this case a full scale war between two nations. Torquere Press gave me my first break and my editor taught me a lot about writing, which I have put to use in later works.

"Eclipse of the Heart" is the first story I wrote deliberately as an erotic romance for an e-publisher. It is my firm favorite and current best-seller. Loose Id suggested that I might like to write another story in the same setting and so readers who liked "Eclipse of the Heart" may want to keep an eye out for "Wildest Dreams" which will be released early in the New Year.



Laura: Your latest novella, "Dealing Straight" is a homoerotic western. To me, this seems like a refreshing mix of genres, which makes me wonder if you are one of many writers breaking the boundaries of erotic romance in this way or are you one of a few. Since you're writing in this sub-genre, can you comment on this and tell us about what's new on the M/M scene?

Emily: I would have to admit that I was inspired by the gay western series written by Cap Iversen, and a number of gay westerns are currently coming out—some of the best at Torquere Press. So I wasn't exactly leading the way in this sub-genre although I was in the first wave of e-books that took on this theme. I would probably have written this story regardless as I have an enormous love for the kind of western books that came out when I was a kid—Louis Lamour, Zane Grey and so on. I see these formulaic westerns as being very close cousin to genre romance. They offer the same certainty that despite all the perils that the hero will face, in the end right will triumph over might. However I do have some ideas that might bring a fresh twist to things, paranormal gay western—I figure I will just keep mixing the
genre's until the cauldron can't take it any more!



Laura: Congratulations on your short story, "Ebb Moon," which was one of six 'Shivers' entries accepted at Phaze - I about fell out of my chair when you told me it was actually M/F! Please tell us a little bit about "Ebb Moon" coming out just in time for Halloween.

Emily: Well, I don't know how many times I have heard the phrase 'write what you know'. And most of the romantic, and sexual, relationships that I have been in were with men. It finally struck me that I should at least try to write a heterosexual romance. When the Shivers contest was posted this seemed like a perfect opportunity.

I wrote this story with much less planning than usual. I basically started with a young woman who has been bitten by a dying 'bukri' which is a wolf-like animal that can send its soul into another creature's body. Young Kyne is then sent off to be fostered in a foreign court. So there she is, losing the struggle to control her
own body, floundering with the strange customs of the court — and to top it all off, falling in love. Fortunately before things got totally out of hand, my hero 'Jasper' came up with a daring plan to allow himself to become Kyne's lover rather than her dinner.

It is rather odd that I keep returning to werewolf themes as my bookshelves are full of about 500 vampire stories with only 5 non-fiction books on shape-changing. However, I find this idea seems to have so much depth to it and hasn't been mined quite so fully by other writers!

Laura: As I said earlier, I first 'met' you at Desdmona's Fish Tank forum for erotica writers. Now we share a publisher (Phaze) and we run into each other at www.RomanceDivas.com. How difficult is it for you to switch between erotica and more romantic fiction?

Emily: I think I really started out in romance that contained very little sexual content. It became clear to me that most readers really want to see the erotic side of a romantic relationship and it was only my residual prudishness and lack of expertise in writing sex scenes that was holding me back. I joined Desdmona's Fish Tank because I'd heard that the group there offered great critiques on any sort of erotic writing. So I set about the task of getting my sex scenes not only sizzling but working as part of an overall story. As a result, I wrote a few short erotic stories that went out to various magazines and e-zines—but only one of them doesn't contain a strong element of romance.

Laura: Describe your writing space. Are you an early bird or a night owl?

Emily:I get up and go to work at 7 am, six days a week. I get home and walk the dog and get to the sofa by about 6pm most days and have until 10 or 11 to do everything else. Generally this leaves me an hour or so to write every day, and since my laptop has broken down that has sunk even lower. So my work space is sitting on the sofa with my feet on a chair and a laptop pretty much where the name suggests it should go. However, given my budget for buying a new computer is about $100, I may have to move things around to accommodate a budget desktop instead...

Laura: Ugh! That sucks. Let's say you've just won a contest that will enable you to live anywhere in the world for year and write (with the computer of your dreams LOL). Where will you go and what will you write?

Emily: That's an easy one. I would move to Wellington, New Zealand which is easily the best place on the planet as far as I am concerned. I would live in the bush covered hills just at the edge of the city, somewhere near a bus stop that could whip me into town or off to the beach. I would write my first attempt novel length attempt mainstream slash with romance, drama gay protagonists and sex scenes. I would also continue to write novellas for e-publishing and attempt to get an agent.

Laura: Sounds wonderful. You do a lot more than write. Tell us where readers can find you and what other neat stuff you do in your spare time.

Emily: I am something of an internet addict, although currently that is a habit that is proving difficult to satisfy. The easiest place to find me online is The Erotic Romance Writers Forum which I run along with Kay Derwydd and Fiona Glass. I also fill in as the moderator of the erotic forum at Absolute Write and as the non-fiction editor at the great original slash e-zine Forbidden Fruit.

My most recent idea was to start a yahoogroup allowing writers of MM (MM+ and FF) erotic romance to chat with each other and with readers at Homo Promo (a name which I feared might be a little over the top but nobody seems to have been offended .

And of course I try and keep my personal page, Veinglory.com, and associated blog up. Recently I started a Veinglory yahoogroup for anyone who wants to let me know what I should write next, as well as hear about new releases and win prizes (I'm currently giving away copies of my small press Arthurian novellas "Alas, the Red Dragon" and "Among New Men").

Laura: In closing, please tell readers about your latest WIP and any other parting words you care to share. Thank you so much for letting us get to know you!

Emily: Currently there are a lot of stories in editing that will be released soon. At Loose Id this includes a return to the world of "Eclipse" with "Wildest Dream" as well as the first in a new trilogy (following from the short story "Knowing Patrick") — "The Pilgrim Heart." I return to Torquere Press with my first science fiction story - "Star Crossed" is a shorter length 'single shot'. And of course there is my first boy-girl romance coming out as a Phaze Shiver, and a number of short stories upcoming from Chippewa Press.

At the moment I am finishing a short novella about a muse who falls in love with his mortal charge. I am not sure what I will write next, perhaps a story I have been toying with for a while in which a closeted university Professor who is also a male witch meets up with a gorgeous vampire—with chaotic consequences. This story has a working title of "The Wicca Man: Tongue Tied."

My main message to any readers out there would be – please drop me a line. After selling hundreds and hundred of copies I have received exactly two reader's responses! I am open at all times to feedback, suggestions and bribes for sequels either through my yahoogroup or by direct email to veinglory @ gmail.com

Laura: LOL! Bribes are always good! Thank you so much, and I wish you lots of success with your current and upcoming projects :)

Threesomes (No, it's not what you think!)

Three screen names that you've had: l_bacchi, Laura Bacchi, and Bacchiboo.

Three things you like about yourself: My intuition, my creativity, and my eyes.

Three things you don't like about yourself: My ADD, my selfishness, and my internet addiction.

Three parts of your heritage: My big boobs, my overactive sex drive (Thanks, Mom! And Aunt Bobbie! And...), and my hick accent that I often try to hide.

Three things that scare you: Someone hurting my kid, judgmental types, and the shape this country is in.

Three of your everyday essentials: Deodorant, a climax, and, um, another climax.

Three things you are wearing right now: A T-shirt, glasses, and a wild head of hair.

Three of your favorite songs: "Three Days" and "Then She Did" by Jane's Addiction and "National Anthem" by Radiohead.

Three things I want in a relationship: humor, understanding, and space.

Two truths and a lie: I can write Chinese, I can't cook well, and I use to be afraid of horses.

Three things you can't live without: Chocolate, sex, and clean underwear.

Three places you want to go on vacation: Scotland, Germany, and Holland.

Three things you just can't do: Read music, play an instrument, or wake up easily in the morning.

Three kids names: Eenie, Meenie, Miney-Moe.

Three things you want to do before you die: Visit Tibet, direct a short film, and had a one-person show at a kick-ass gallery.

Three celeb crushes: Johnny Depp, James Spader, and Julian Rios (porn stars count, right?)

Three of your favorite musicians: Jill Scott,

Three physical things about the opposite sex that appeals to you: Intense eyes, bravado, their smell.

Three of your favorite hobbies: Writing, sex, and art.

Three things you really want to do badly right now: Sleep, write, and clean my house (only because it's driving me crazy).

Three careers you're considering/you've considered: Linguistics scholar, gallery owner, and art teacher.

Three ways that you are sterotypically a boy: I scratch my butt, I burp, and I fart. Loud. LOL

Three ways that you are sterotypically a girl: I like men, I wear a bra, and I like pretty, pretty things.

Three people that I would like to see post this meme: Sherice, Anna, and Kristen.

Makes me want to scrub him all over...

Trace at Amber Quill outdid himself with this cover! Lucky in Lust is due out in mid-December as part of The Art of Love AmberPax Collection. Since I'm an artist, I really enjoyed writing this little 'tail' about an art professor and her model. Just wish I had been the one to put my hands on that luscious tush...

Here's the blurb:

Brian “Lucky” Luciano is out of work and out of luck. When he signs up to be a nude model at a local art school, he thinks it’ll be the easiest thirty-five bucks an hour he’ll ever make. But his new boss plans to get her money’s worth, and lucky for him, Brian plans to let her.

Art professor Sonya Walker can’t believe her good fortune when the object of her high school fantasies walks into her studio butt-naked and looking for a job. He’s just what she needs to embark on a new project that will turn the Art Department on its ear...and make her pent-up desires become reality.

Ready for an excerpt?

“You’re late. Hurry up and get out here.” A female voice boomed from the room beyond. “And I want to see everything.”

Brian froze. He suddenly felt a little vulnerable, like a starlet on a Hollywood casting couch. Yesterday at the bar, he’d spent his last five bucks drinking beer with his buddies and joking about what would happen if he got the job. His friends hassled him about getting hard while young women sketched his cock and had thrown out suggestions of what to think about if he started to get a woody. Root canals. A knee to the balls. Lorena Bobbitt.

But the time for laughs was over. With a dog to feed and a landlord ragging his ass, chickening out simply wasn’t an option.

He ran a hand over his goatee and peeked through a crack in the door. Not a good idea. The woman who just might be his future boss had long blonde hair, the silky kind you could lose your fingers in while tasting her nipples or sliding your cock into her pussy. Her legs were long, too, and tan. They seemed to go on forever, then disappeared into a short summer dress. A gold chain glinted on her ankle as she tapped her bare foot impatiently on the cement floor below. The twitching in his cock told him it had been way too long since his last fuck. He wished she’d turn around so he could see her face.

“I’m waiting!”

He gulped. Why the hell had he gone and looked at her? His slick palms fumbled with his belt, and when he tugged his jeans to his ankles, he lost his balance and crashed into a shelf full of clay pots. They rattled around and shimmied, but thankfully nothing broke.

You’ve never had a problem getting naked for a woman before. When all the clothes sat in a pile on the floor, he looked down and groaned. “Down, fella. This ain’t the time to be raring to go.”

Nine inches of thick cock bobbed in reply. He shut his eyes and lifted his right foot...then stomped the toe on his left that he’d stubbed during last night’s binge. The pain took the focus off his dick and started an excruciatingly slow countdown. When his prick waned to a modest five inches, he entered the room.

The blonde didn’t even turn to face him. All of the students waiting around the corner, however, did. Some young women laughed out loud. A few—including some guys—made catcalls. Lucky decided on the friendly approach. When he grinned like the bad boy he was and gave the class a wave, applause and whistles filled the room.

“Late again, Stuart? You’re already failing—” The female teacher spun around. Her eyes shot straight to the important stuff, then traveled up slowly to see his face. He wasn’t sure what surprised her more, his cock or his features. She stood shell-shocked with the kind of expression people get when they’re trying to remember someone’s name. His heart pounded, and he prayed she hadn’t been one of his infamous one-night stands.

Her lips curled upwards naughtily while a list of names ran through his head. Names of women. Names of bars. Names of hotels in the wrong parts of town. Still he came up empty-handed. If she’d been his for a night, surely he would have remembered.
She turned back to her students. “Okay, guys. Why don’t we call it a day?”

He waved again while his audience filed out of the room, clay and wire sculptures in hand. As the last students gathered their things, she finally addressed him. “I guess today is my lucky day.”

His hand froze in mid-wave when he heard his nickname. “Do I know you from somewhere?”

“Kind of,” she answered. “From a long, long time ago.”

Once again, Lucky ran through the names of the blondes he could remember. No dice. Maybe she was a waitress. “Did you use to work at Sadie’s?”

She took a step in his direction. “I’ve never heard of a place called Sadie’s.”

He believed her. She looked too high class for that crowd. “I give up.”

“I’ll tell you when I’m ready,” she said.

He ran a hand through his hair now damp from nerves and the heat of the studio. “That bad, eh?”

She didn’t answer and took another step closer. He made the mistake of inhaling her scent. She smelled like summer peaches and cream and woman all rolled into one. When his nostrils flared to take in more, his cock responded with a visible jerk. He shifted his stance on the cool gray floor and prayed for it to go away. Thinking about it only made it worse. It stretched and pulsed as his balls drew tight.

She licked her full, pink lips. “You can’t pose nude with an erection, Lucky, no matter how impressive it is. Especially in Mr. Petrilutchsky’s class.”

“So you’re not hiring?”

“I didn’t say that. But I’m pretty sure you’re here for the ad he placed with HR.”

He shook his head in frustration. “Wrong place. Right time. For a guy called Lucky, I’m not.”

“Oh, I have a feeling you’ll be getting lucky before long...”

Rock the vote!!!

Somehow I'm in the lead at Erotic Romance Reviews for Women's Phaze author poll.

If you have a moment, stop by and cast your vote. I'd really appreciate it! And while you're there, check out what ERRW has to offer. Lots of great reviews and a creepy cool contest for Halloween!

And speaking of votes, Phaze is the featured publisher at The Romance Studio Blue. You can read lots of juicy excerpts there and vote for Phaze as your favorite publisher.

Phaze submission (love that word!) guidelines are posted, too, for any of you aspiring authors who like to write HOT. The Shivers series of shorts is due out next week from Phaze, so take a look and see what tales are coming out to make you shiver in more ways than one ;)

Recent Reads

Sex with Kings by Eleanor Herman

This was a delicious read! Witty and scholarly without straying beyond my comprehension, Herman's romp through history is a must-read for erotica buffs who like non-fiction. Chapters are arranged by theme and cover just about anything you can think of concerning the women lucky enough to play hide the salami with His Highness. How they got there, what happened should they get pregnant, and what became of them once a new mistress slipped into the king's bed - all this and more are presented with flowing prose that keeps you wanting to turn the pages.

Another cool thing about this author is that she lives near me. Maybe I'll catch her at a signing or reading someday soon. Check out Eleanor Herman's website and read a sample chapter.

Maybe she'll write a book about the lovers of queens...a girl can wish ;)

More Reviews!

Last week was 'FAR' out! Fallen Angel Reviews had good things to say about the SWEET REVENGE anthology I'm in and about The Heart of a Hunter.

Here are the 'sweet' things Tammy said about SWEET REVENGE:

Five Angels

"Sweet Revenge is a wonderful collection of stories that runs the gamut of revenge. I found them to be intriguing, sexy and funny. Each story had characters that were highly developed despite their short length and had excellent plots. The sex scenes are red hot! If you’re looking for a terrific book that has a little of everything then don’t miss Sweet Revenge."

Here's the link. Thanks, Tammy!

And then I saw this from Jessica:

Five Angels

"Laura Bacchi has offered readers a short story about two characters from different worlds. The instant physical attraction between them has Asher battling with his body and mind through the book. Raine is a woman who finds it difficult to remain quiet and secretive about her desire: which is a total opposite to her normal behavior. The passion between the two just goes to show that you don’t have to live next door to someone for them to truly understand your deepest desires. The Heart of a Hunter is a wonderfully written short story about risking one’s heart for one moment for a chance at blissful romance. Laura Bacchi has done a superb job at earning 5 Angels!"

Here's the link. Thanks, Jessica! I was tickled pink with both reviews :)

A Whole New Me!

I feel so fresh, so shiny...kinda like a virgin all over again. LOL

Many thanks to Jax from Romance Divas for giving my blog a face-lift. I wonder if she does boob-jobs...

Seriously, you need to check out her design site and her personal site to see more examples of her talent. She also created sites for Eden Bradley and Kristen Painter. The woman is truly a marvel :)

Thanks, chickie!

ERRW Site Temporarily Down

Due to technical difficulties, Erotic Romance Reviews for Women is down. When they're up and running again, I'll post it here :)

Vote for me at ERRW!!!

I'm up for Phaze Author of the Month at Erotic Romance Reviews for Women and need your help! The competition is stiff (kinda like the guys I write about) so I'd love for you to participate.

If you see another author there you'd prefer to vote for, that's okay, too. It looks like you have the entire month to vote. Here's the link:

Erotic Romance Reviews for Women

Just scroll down to the poll at the bottom right. And check out the rest of the site - pretty neat - and they gave The Heart of a Hunter "4 Stillettos." Click here for the review.

Also, I'm about to tear into my TBR pile. I won and purchased a lot of ebooks in the last six months. As I read, I'll post my thoughts and author info.

Another AmberPax Cover

Coming this November to a planet near you...a collection of tales featuring love, lust, and plenty of intergalactic whoopie between Earthlings and aliens. Starlight Serenade Vol. 1 includes some great Amber Heat authors:

Amidst a Crowd of Stars by Megan Hart
Fertility Rite by Adrianna Dane
Relic of the Heart by moi
Snaring the Huntress by Sylvia Day
Transplant by Sasha White

Starlight Serenade Vol. 1 will be available from Amber Quill Press this November. And if you like it, there's a second volume to follow.

Here's the blurb for Relic of the Heart:

Tara Covington’s week can’t get any worse. Her boyfriend’s sleeping with yet another intern, the department chair just pulled her fellowship, and she’s forced to work for a wealthy UFO fanatic to make ends meet. But her new assignment has an upside, and his name is Kadir. This hot volunteer claiming to be an alien makes her want to get out into the field…and into his pants.

Kadir Takoda’s future couldn’t be brighter. Selected for the return mission to Earth, the archaeologist vows to bring back the Relic of the Heart and restore honor to his family name. His only problem is Tara: the closer he gets to finding the mythical gemstone, the closer he gets to the driven archaeologist who thrills his body. But his ancestor’s affair with an Earth female is how his people lost the Relic in the first place, and it’ll take an incredible woman for him to risk tarnishing the Takoda name again.

I'll be posting an excerpt soon, so check back :)