Oh, Beck Baby

*sigh* I'm in love. I got Beck's latest under the tree this year. The Information is getting mixed reviews on Amazon, but I personally think it's his most cohesive album. There's danceable parts and deep-thinking, mellow parts, but the flow really works for me. The DVD portion was disappointing--I felt like a bunch of people got high and goofed around, then handed the recording over to a first-year art student so they could add in some not-so special effects. But, hey, I didn't buy it for the images. I bought it for the sound.

And the sound doesn't miss a beat :)

Cover Snark, SEXing, and Samhain

---> Woo-hoo!! Topping Tora made "Hot Cover of the Week" at Dionne Galace's blog. Dionne said great things about cover artist extraordinaire April Martinez -- check it out if you get a chance.

---> I'll be blogging at the Liquid Silver Books Blog tomorrow, December 23rd. Stop by to say hello and get entered to win a story. Your story. Just tell me what naughty toy you want for Christmas and your name goes into the hat. Or stocking. Or some young stud's underwear. It may take me a loooooooong time to pick a winner if I use the latter ;) If you win, you'll get a personalized short story up to 2500 words featuring the toy of your choosing and as many warm bodies as you'd like. ;)

---> I'm so excited... Three of my kinky tales will be in a super-hot Samhain anthology next month. Talk about starting the new year right!
Secret Thoughts: Erotique
Genre: Erotica
Publisher: Samhain
ISBN: 1-59998-492-X
Length: Novella
Price: $3.50
Publication Date: January 30, 2007
Cover art by Scott Carpenter

Domination or submission? Ménage a trios or man on man? What about voyeurism? A tease? A taste? Sink your teeth into this collection of erotica short stories from six top erotic storytellers.

Everyone has them. Those secret thoughts that bring forth your hottest dreams and desires. The ones you don’t share, the ones that make your heart pound and your blood heat.

What do you fantasize about? In the Secret Thoughts: Erotique Collection, you’ll find all sorts of deliciously erotic scenes from the naughty minds of Beth Williamson, J.J. Massa, Laura Bacchi, Nix Winter, Sasha White , and S. Desires.

Squee!!! I'm in an anthology with Sasha White!!!

Is that your final answer?

Well, I guess it is because today brings the final question(s) in my "Pick Laura's Brain" contest. This was funnest contest I've held so far this year -- thanks to everyone who participated! I had a great time :)

Today Rachelle asked: 1) How do you come up with a unique title to every story you write? And 2) Do you write even when your muse is on vacation? lol

Titles are hard to think up sometimes. Usually something either comes to me right away -- before I start writing -- or eludes me till the very end. Often I try to find a line in the story that kind of resonates with me (The Heart of a Hunter and Taming the Tiger) or I may find an object (Relic of the Heart) to wrap it all up. I seem to use a character's name a lot too (Topping Tora, The Andumi Effect, Chosen: The Chronicles of Winter, Lucky in Lust, and Chella's Quest).

And I've found it helps to pick titles starting with letters early in the alphabet -- those stories are at the top when certain reviews are announced ;)

For your second question, yes, I write whether the muse is sitting beside me filing her nails or whether she's out shopping. When she's gone, I find that chocolate and a hearty glass of red wine can work as good substitutes. She doesn't like to hear this, but, hey, a gal's gotta write. I tend to write lousier stuff when she's gone though, and it feels more like a job than fun.

Thanks for your questions, Rachelle! Now it's time to put all the names in a hat and pick the two winners... hold on... got one... and now the other.... Debby and Glenna!!! I'll be contacting you both tomorrow night (US EST) to see which title you prefer. Congratulations!!!

Romance Book Cover Fun

How Did I End Up On The Cover Of This Romance Novel?

Next up... What's next?

Today's questions come from D who asks, "Is there something you want to write but just have not had a chance? What is next?"

Deep inside, there's a historical wanting to come out. The title will hopefully be Relentless, and the setting is Regency-era London. I started plotting but little else. Here's what I have for the blurb thus far: When Emma Chatsworth discovers her betrothed desires the kind of marital relations she cannot possibly perform, let alone enjoy, she turns to her future brother-in-law James Duncan for advice—and instruction. Together, they journey through the seedy London streets in search of dark pleasures to prepare her for the inevitable wedding night... but how can James let the woman who can fulfill his own fantasies marry another man?

This will definitely have a BDSM theme, and I may try to query print pubs for it.

Up next is another futuristic MM. I'm at the half-way point and it's due to Amber Quill by January. Better get movin' on that! It's titled The Heart of a Man, and there's a murder and sex and action and sex... Hot, sweaty man-sex. I also have the last two tales of a futuristic trilogy I keep dragging my butt on. It's not MM, but there's the potential for a menage in the second book. I'm really excited about that ;)

Thanks for playing, D, and good luck in the drawing!

New Question, New Review

Today's question comes from P:

Many men are surprised to find out that women enjoy male/male romances, so I’m curious to know what the men in your life (hubby, brothers, etc) thought or said when they first found out that you write male/male romances.

Well, there aren't many men in my life (just in my head!) -- no brothers or other close male relatives except my father. Dad knows I write erotica, but will hopefully never find out about my new interest in writing man-love. He's a pretty conservative guy, and homosexuality is not something he tolerates well.

My husband, however, is fine with it -- he even shared my guy-on-guy pirate story with his gay co-worker, who shared it with another... No one's gotten into trouble. Yet ;) In the art department where hubby and I attended college, many of our friends were GBL, so he's very accepting of this subject matter.

By the way, the pirate tale is up as a free read on my website. Click here to read it and get ready to see some booty get plundered. Okay, stop groaning :)

Thanks for the great question, P! If any other M/M writers want to chime in on the subject, feel free.

Got a cool new review for The Heart of a Hunter. And I really like the reviewer's upbeat style while conveying the gist of the plot. Thanks, Sinclair Reid!

"Multiple O's!...Author Laura Bacchi does a wonderful job of enthralling the reader and giving her characters depth and life. Plus, the sex isn’t so bad either. *wink* Go buy your copy of THE HEART OF A HUNTER today."—Sinclair Reid, Romance Reviews Today Erotic

The final issue of Secret Thoughts

They say all good things must come to an end, and Sasha White's Secret Thoughts eZine was a darn good thing. Catch the final issue here and enjoy a free kinky short story from Sasha herself.

Sasha is an author who gives back to aspiring erotic romance writers. She's given workshops at Romance Divas and offered exposure to other writers via various venues. Secret Thoughts was classy and professional. Now that she's hit the big-time with Avon, Black Lace, and Kensington, edits and writing need to take priority in her life at present.

Thanks, Sasha, for letting me play a small part in this endeavor. You're a gem. (She's also a hotter than sin writer. See why at www.SashaWhite.net.)

For those of you who missed the past year of hot reads, here's some great news: Samhain will be publishing a collection of short stories that first appeared in Secret Thoughts. And thanks to Sasha, three of mine will be in the anthology.

Thanks again, Sasha, for making this possible... You rock!

Finders, Keepers!

The answers to today's question might surprise you. D would like to know what's on my keeper shelf.

On the naughty side of the shelf is... (okay, no surprises here)

5. Anne Rice's Sleeping Beauty series. Not too keen on the plot, but the OMG kinkiness of it, the holy shit, did she really write this?! factor. I believe it damaged me for life :-O

4. Warrior's Woman by Johanna Lindsay. I've always had sci-fi fantasies: Big alpha guy from outer space says I'm his and he takes me. Yep. My kinda book.

3. The Oath Series by Marly Chance. The first one in this series was my very first ebook purchase (and my first taste of erotic romance). You should've seen techo-idiot me trying for hours to use Microsoft Reader.

2. The Switch by Diane Whiteside. I had no idea people wrote romance tales about Dommes. Well, switches. Not a clue.

1. Menage by Emma Holly. Jaw-wide-open, drooling-all-over-myself hot hot HOT stuff. Lucky for me hubby picked it up for possible reading material before going to the bathroom. He didn't come out for a long, looooong time. That night we, um, had a very nice evening. And the next night, and the next... ;)

My TBR pile is huge but near the top of the heap is Natural Law by Joey Hill. I've read excerpts, and I'm sorry to say it might bump Emma out of the number one position.

On the sweet to sensual side however...

5. My Dearest Enemy by Connie Brockway. Such angst and tension.

4. Kissing Casanova by Crystal Bright. Crystal's a friend of mine, and I served as her beta for this one. A hot wrestler and a socialite find true love. It's special to me because I like how Crystal tells a story.

3. I love Amanda Quick. Perky heroines. brooding heros. Fun plots. I've read all of them and think Mistress, Desire, and Ravished are my faves.

2. The Proposition by Judith Ivory. A linguist and a rat catcher. Weird, eh? My God, what a well-written story.

1. Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase. I lent this one out (along with the above) and need to send in my posse to get it back. Such a great story. Sexual tension up the ying-yang, a hero who had my heart.

Thanks for the great question, D! Now it's your turn. What's on your keeper shelf?

Weather and Witches

Got a great question in today from GD: Do you find that the seasons and weather affect the way you write a story?

Yes, now that I think of it, I believe these things do influence me.

I like snow. A lot. Not necessarily the getting out in it and freezing my butt off parts, but the looking at it through the window part. My novella Taming the Tiger has a blizzard in it, and early in the writing of it I enjoyed a snow day. I took breaks from writing to gaze out the window and enjoy the scenery, and I think this helped me get more descriptive and stay in the mood.

I worked on Topping Tora during the summer in our hotter than Hades loft/office, and this novel takes place in summer. I could really get into describing the heat and humidity because I was sitting in a pool of sweat and experiencing it first-hand. Come to think of it, the same thing happened with Relic of the Heart. I think I probably used a lot more sensory detail in these stories because I felt hot or saw the flakes wafting down from the sky. I guess this is something to remember for future tales :)

Interesting question, G. Thanks for asking it! Maybe if I try writing hot when I'm cold or the other way around, I'll be more comfortable, though :)

Do you want a shot at winning Topping Tora or The Andumi Effect? Ask me your questions, I'll tell you no lies. Hopefully...

"Weather" you're cold where you're at or burning up, here's a new release from a fellow Romance Diva author sure to warm your heart:

The Goblin, The Witch, and the Single Girl

Five years after losing her parents in the 9/11 terrorist act that toppled the Twin Towers in New York City, Caitlin realizes she needs to take control of her life again and start fresh. Even if it means giving up the most eligible bachelor in the City.

Trips to Montreal as a young girl with her parents had taken her through the quaint, quiet little village of Rouses Point. Perched on the northernmost shores of Lake Champlain in New York state, the old Clabo Victorian home had been vacant even back then.

And now, here she stands in the middle of the foyer of her new home, grinning like a Cheshire cat. Will her life be as sweet as she foresees? Or will the other occupants in her house throw a wrench in her plans?

Rating: Sweet
Book Length: Novella

Price: $4.75

Genre: Paranormal/Contemporary

Click here to read an excerpt... and enjoy!

Today's question

(I just realized it's 2 AM, so I guess that makes it yesterday's question -- sorry!)

It takes two to tango, as the saying goes, and those of us who enjoy getting tied up need someone to do the tying. A, now single, liked to indulge in mild to moderate bondage play, and she'd like to know what -- as a "singleton" -- can she do to simulate the feeling of being bound and helpless, while still leaving at least one hand free to pleasure herself, beyond a vivid imagination and reading in the genre beforehand.

[Please don't open these links with minors around :)]

This is a toughie but I have some thoughts, thanks to my favorite BDSM retail site, Extreme Restraints.

The Doggy-Style Spreader is kinky as hell. Yeah, $188 isn't cheap, but just imagine the thoughts one could think while... *sigh* Just leave one hand free and have a blast.

I'm not too sure if I'd like this one: The Self-Bondage Time Lock - my bladder's the size of a pea (no pun intended). I'm thinking you could cuff an ankle to a wrist and hope to God the ice melts.

This cuff and tether kit allows for a lot of movement and is cheap, but you would have to use safety-release cuffs. Heck, you could use scarves as tethers and watch some porn -- and force yourself to keep your hands behind the chair until the last 15 minutes of the movie. That way you've got a psychological component thrown in there.


Thigh cuff sets could work. You'd have to keep the cuff part toward the center insides of your thighs, not the outside. I think you could use velcro cuffs and still be able to unfasten them if your opposite hand was close by.

This hog-tie kit when used in this position (I'd cuff my hands under the knees), might work. Cheap too.

You'd have to leave one hand out obviously, but this locking fiddle might let you "fiddle" around solo.

At over $600, this ain't cheap, but it's incredibly cool: The Trap Bondage Device. I'm pretty sure you could manage locking yourself up in this. You'd have to be flexible and lay out the wrist cuff though, and you'd want to lock in your neck after pulling the leg stocks up.

I'm wondering if a some sturdy neoprene-style cuffs that can come apart would be your best bet. Cuff a wrist to an ankle, or ankle to ankle then up to the bedpost where you hook in the wrist cuff with your free hand. Or maybe lie on the floor and tie your ankles to either side of your bed's footboard. You'd have the sensation of being forcibly spread wide.

Another thing to possibly rig up is a hammock. String it up over your bed and crawl underneath. Feet find holes -- maybe twist up in them good and tight -- then your spare hand finds a hole. Depending on how low you set it up, you'd have the sensation of being trapped plus the ropes rubbing against you. [I'd go for soft ropes ;)]

Whatever you do, you probably know to check the Velcro, etc. in a test run to make sure you can get out before doing anything that could put you in any kind of danger. I'd also suggest you check out a local BDSM group with a excellent reputation for upholding the Safe, Sane, Consensual creed... Then maybe you can find a partner who enjoys bondage just as much as you do!

Good luck and let me know how it goes!

Let the interrogation begin!

Here are the first questions for my holiday contest--and they're good ones!

From V: I took a look at your artwork on your site. Very nice. How long have you been *dabbling*? Have you had any commercial success with your art?

Thanks! I've been drawing since I was a child but actually have a BFA in Studio Art (Printing and Painting), so I guess I've been at it semi-seriously for twenty-plus years--don't do the math ;) Although I've won a few awards in local shows and made a few bucks in outdoor art festivals, I haven't made much more than some extra spending money. My husband, also a painter, is getting back in the groove of making big ugly paintings again (well, his aren't so ugly), and I'm getting the itch to paint. Maybe now that we're living in a more cultural area, I can get something shown in a gallery and earn some cha-ching. We'll see...

J has two questions: 1) What qualities do you feel all your hero and heroines should have? 2) If you have the power to bring to life one of your characters, who would it be and why?

Hmmmm. Good questions. 1) I hope all my heros and heroines have the capacity to grow. I want them to be real and sometimes indecisive and maddening and quirky... kinda like me :) I also like to make them more aware of what their partner needs emotionally as the story progresses. Last but not least, I like them to make mistakes. Perfect heros and heroines make for boring stories IMO.

2) This one's easy -- I'd bring Brogan from Chosen: The Chronicles of Winter. He's the first "fantasy" guy I really brought to life by writing a story for him. Alien, nice cock, the strong, silent type... Yeah, definitely Brogan!

From fellow Amber Quill writer Jennifer Colgan: Of all the sexy hunks you're written about, who do you think is the ultimate lover? ;)

Hi, Jennifer! Without a doubt, Jovan from Topping Tora. A hot guy with a dominant streak who really wants to please a woman. He knows what he wants and he'll work hard to get it.

Speaking of lover boys, check out Jennifer's hunks on the book page of her gorgeous websites here and here (writing as Bernadette Gardner). I have a feeling Molten Man would have a lot of stamina :D

This one's from C: If you could have a dinner at your house with five of authors that inspired you from the present to the distant past, who would you invite and what did they do to inspire you in life/writing?

I saved the hardest question for last.

1) Randall Kenan, author of Let the Dead Bury the Dead. I love short stories, and he knows how to do things right. Awesome characterization. Tight, surprising, and full of twists. For those of you looking to write short, he's a great example to study.

2) William Faulkner. Want to get deep inside your characters' heads? Four words: As I Lay Dying. I think this is the book that made me want to write.

3) Eleanor Herman. I recently finished Sex with the Queen, and although I found it tragic, I loved it just as much as Sex with Kings. She proves that non-fiction can be as funny and sad and enthralling as fiction. If you need to do a lot of "telling" in your story, her writing can show you how to make it interesting.

4) Jeffery Deaver. Suspense tight as a drum with more twists than a Chinese acrobat. I'd give anything to be able to write a thriller the way he does. The problem is I get so into the story that I can't step back and study him.

5) I saved the best for last... my buddy Bridget Midway. She's a machine and can crank out stories -- good stories -- amazingly fast. She's always been a cheerleader for me when I need one; whenever I'm down about my writing, she slaps some sense into me and forces me to keep going. Plus she's serious about her craft and funny. I just hope she won't poke me with her fork under the table if I indulge in too many martinis :)

This was fun, and I hope to answer more deep, dark, probing questions soon! Bring 'em on!!