Favorite Sex Sites

I forget the actual statistic, but it's well known the Internet is brimming with sex sites; blogs by sex workers, advice columns for dating, networking sites for hook-ups and so on. Unfortunately a lot of them are pretty weak, ranging from simply tame to useless to outright misinformed. As such, I'm posting my favorite sites..... what are yours?


Bitchy Jones
"For the dominant woman" but she has a lot of wise things to say about sex in general.

Vibrator Guide
Because they can be expensive, and it's helpful to check reviews before spending two hundred bucks on what turns out to be a plastic piece of crap.

Fet Life
Networking for the BDSM community - but really there's something here for anyone who's poly, got any kind of fetish or simply likes to get creative.

Seasoned Sex
A site that actually acknowledges older women still like sex. Shocking!

Scarlet Teen
I sent my niece here but in fact it's great reading for anyone.

Hitched Magazine
How to keep those marital files burning. :)

For The Girls
hot naked guys for a woman's eye

Male Submission Art
the sexiest photos on the web, for those of us who like our men on their knees. There's a lot of insightful commentary by the site owner as well.

Vagina Pagina
A pajama party for vaginas. No, I really don't know what the title means but it's a cool site.

I'm always looking for good new sex sites on the web (especially if it has good writing and/or pretty pictures) so share your suggestions... Read more!

Perfection? Highly Overrated

I got a review the other day that said my heroine was just a little too perfect. She wanted to see some flaws. I thought...hm, Me? Writing a PERFECT character? I think not. I'm a big believer in crafting heroes and heroines who, lets face it, just aren't anywhere close to perfect. I started reading romances back at the dawn of time and in those days every heroine had long raven, golden, or brilliant red hair, they were the epitome of female beauty and strength and every man who got within viewing distance was on his knees with lust for her.

Admittedly, as a housewife with a couple of rug rats and a mountain of laundry to do, that concept was rather appealing. At first. As the years rolled on, I began to realize I wanted a little more 'reality' in my heroes and heroines and when I began my writing journey, I tried really hard to make characters who were real and believable. Yes, my alpha man hero, may be drop dead gorgeous but he is certain to have some flaws too. A quick temper, a possessive attitude, a little bit bossy...in and out of the bedroom. Perhaps he has a past and made some mistakes along the way and now he is searching for SOMETHING to make him whole again.

It's the same with heroines. My heroines come in every size and shape and it's my hope they are "everywomen" who could be the friend you come across at the grocery store or at a PTA meeting. They are sometimes a little too 'curvy', too shy, too outspoken, or possess a little too much temper. They often have a past that has caused deep-seated worry and insecurity yet they are survivors who are determined to beat the odds and find happiness.

It is my belief that crafting the perfect character is making them somewhat "imperfect", more relatable, and more real. Don't know about you but reading cardboard cutouts of what a person SHOULD be can be rather boring. Give me an average woman who beats insurmountable odds and triumphs and, to me, that's a perfect heroine. Don't give me supermodels and drop dead gorgeous actresses. Give me school teachers, shop keepers, and florists. Give me some average Janes and Joes who want home and happiness and love.

Thanks for having me today at Erotic Muses! I write for Ellora's Cave and Resplendence Publishing so please stop by and check out hot shifter stories, menage, erotic regency and Texas set contemporaries. I've loved being here!

My links:
http://www.reginacarlysle.com
http://www.reginacarlysle.blogspot.com
http://threewickedwriters.blogspot.com Read more!

Supernatural in TV Land

Is anyone else a sucker for the "fun" episodes of this show? I know the high drama and serious story arc are what Supernatural is about, but I especially love episodes that make me laugh. "Ghost Facers" is still one of my favorites. Plus, I'm always drawn to stories where the characters are stuck in a time warp, TV series or game show. Pleasantville is a good example.

Shows that have done this... Cordelia in that episode of Angel where she explores the path not chosen and stars in her own TV series. Roswell, when the gang is in an episode of Bewitched. I know there's another episode of some show where the characters were stuck jumping from one TV show to the next. What was it? Anyone know what I'm thinking of? Read more!

Glogster

I found the coolest site to create online posters. It only took a matter of minutes to make this one. Wouldn't it be cool to do one for each book?

Read more!

delicious skin

Over at Dear Authors, there's a long, controversy-filled thread about race. Parts of it make me want to go find the nearest bar and order up drinks for everyone in the conversation.

But then there's a long riff about skin color and food that got me thinking. People are objecting to food and drink being used to describe a hero/heroine's color. Cafe au lait, cinnamon, mocha, caramel, chocolate...you've probably seen the descriptions used before. Yet as someone else pointed out, it goes for the paler among us as well. Peaches and cream, white as milk, a cheek like a ripe peach. Everyone gets a skin as food comparison.

I think it's clear that people writing romance know that mouths and sexual tension just go together naturally from the kiss to the skin lick. I don't think it's out of line--it's natural. We want to know the color of the characters' skin and we want to be aroused slightly by that color. Or at least not turned off. ("He was lovely and as brown as the pile of dead leaves outside the house.")

On the other hand? I do think there could be a bit more variety in the descriptions. I wandered around my kitchen looking for food that's tasty and could be skin color.

Hmmm We have some flan, but that would be someone who needs to see a doctor about a liver condition. Yellow. Definitely a problem with jaundice. The flip side of pale flan is yummy caramel, but that's been done.

Oh, yes, dark rum. Yup. And lighter rum for people like me (who get sunburned easily) Bourbon! Yes! How about Bailey's Irish Cream? Or don't we want to get into brand names? I wish my liquor cabinet was a little more expansive. I could pour out samples and see if they fit. And then get sloshed at 8:30 am.

Okay there's the cooking sherry which is also fairly yellow but a pretty color. How's about the chicken I cooked last night? It's an accurate match for a pale skinned Caucasian, on the other hand, I think dead flesh only works for say, a vampire. Banana flesh? Too phallic and too damned pale. Apple cheeks! With the delicious juicy flesh of the apple. It's just as pale as the banana but somehow less bizarre.

Hazelnuts are a lovely color. Shiny too. But how many people have seen hazelnuts? What about peanut butter? A pretty tan. Too bad it's associated with an elementary school kid's lunch (or his really horrible allergy.)

My kitchen table's a nice color, but eh, we already know the ebony and mahogany are overdone. And oak? That's odd. I see it as limb description all the time ("his legs were sturdy as oak trunks" Or something) but as a color. Not as much. Cherry wood is gorgeous. I'd love to see a cherry wood colored person--I doubt I ever will and I doubt I'd write about it....

I don't think we have any real ivory here, but I think it's as pale as that banana I left back in the kitchen.

All this talk of food is making me hungry. I'm going to go eat my cheerios. Which really do look like a skin color.....Hmmmm.

"The flesh of his back, glowing pale gold as Cheerios....."

Read more!

Have a Good Day

I've not had the best time the last few weeks. I'm in need of a laugh. So I thought I'd share a joke or two.

To A Beautiful Woman

Now I lay me down to sleep I pray the Lord my shape to keep.
Please no wrinkles, please no bags, and please lift my butt before it sags.
Please no age spots, please no gray, and as for my belly, please take it away.
Please keep me healthy, please keep me young, and thank you Dear Lord for all that you've done.

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Five tips for a woman....
1. It is important that a man helps you around the house and has a job.
2. It is important that a man makes you laugh.
3. It is important to find a man you can count on and doesn't lie to you.
4. It is important that a man loves you and spoils you.
5. It is important that these four men don't know each other!

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One saggy boob said to the other saggy boob: "If we don't get some support soon, people will think we're nuts."

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Below is a wonderful poem Audrey Hepburn wrote when asked to share her "beauty tips." It was read at her funeral years later.
For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day. For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself, and the other for helping others.

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Keep the muse happy. He is the magic behind the artist.

Posted by Marianne LaCroix

I don't know about anyone else, but my muse is male. He sometimes changes in appearance, but he is essentially the same man--sexy, loving, dangerous, adventurous, naughty, creative, commanding, tender...and drool worthy on many levels.

He sits at my side and whispers into my ear more tortures to throw at my heroine. He teases me with his plots of seduction and makes me laugh with his jokes. I am totally in love with my muse. He is my dream man, my hero, my ultimate lover.

Trouble with a male muse is keeping him happy. Sounds silly, but it is true, especially for the erotic fiction writer who must think of new ways to tease and thrill the reading audience. In other words, creating a hero to seduce the heroine into red hot passionate situations and tempt her into giving up her heart for love.

So, how do you keep the muse happy? Listen to him. Pay attention to when he speaks. Surrender to his seductions and write them down. If you listen, you will discover inspiration.

A muse's main job is to inspire the artist....be it a painter, sculptor or writer.  Mine happens to be male because sexy men inspire me. Come on, you see a man that revs your engines, and tell me you don't immediately wonder what would happen if you went up and planted a kiss right on him. Don't lie. You can lie to me, but never lie to the muse. Admit your attraction and excitement, and go with it.

Feed the muse by answering his one desire...to inspire. Ignore him, and you risk him leaving you. This is a terrible thing for the artist. Nothing is more painful than the want to write but having no inspiration to actually sit down and start typing. Beware, his vacation can take anywhere from days to years.

The muse can hit you at any time. Mine decided to come back several months ago after a long vacation. He is different in appearance, but I know him. He makes me take out my notebook and jot down ideas in a storm. He kisses my neck as I write, breathing his words into my ear. He is seduction. He is temptation. He is my wish.

Then once the book is done, he pleas to remain and be written in a new story.

Keep him happy. Listen to him. And get writing.

But most importantly, show your muse you love him with pages written from the heart. Nothing makes a muse happier than seeing the fruits of his magical inspiration.

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Marianne LaCroix
Website | Blog Read more!