Sensually Wicked Man Love

Lambda names Mexican Heat one of the 5 top romances of 2010

2011-02-16T19:18:00.001-05:00

I wanted to share the intriguing news about MEXICAN HEAT, my romantic suspense novel, a collaboration with Josh Lanyon.
It was a Lambda Finalist in 2010, no it didn’t win, but I’m honored the reviewer like it so much to single it out for one of the Top Five of the year!

Even though Lambda now excludes straight authors from submitting to the Lambda Awards (right after MEXICAN HEAT was named a FINALIST — no correlation that I’m aware of, just saying, and I still see naughty straight female authors submitting to them under their male pen names), I do consider it to be an honor for Dick Smart, the Lambda Romance reviewer/columnist to have given it such a fabulous nod of acceptance and recognition. I do appreciate it and want to acknowledge it.

http://imru.posterous.com/romance-novels-senior-poetry-songs-drama-on-t

I’m looking to 2011 to start writing the second one in the series myself (EEK!) spurred on by this and my name AWESOMELY mentioned in ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE last October as “a pioneer of the M/M romance”. That made my year.

And yes, I do have to share the good times and pat myself on the back now and then.

RWA approves new authors of GBLT romance chapter

2009-04-29T21:05:00.002-04:00

A few months ago, I asked fellow authors of GLBT romance to join together with me to look into forming a special interest chapter of the RWA. While RWA has acknowledged this sub-genre of romance, there was never a chapter where authors of this sub-genre could meet to discuss issues and experiences that focused on their writing, promotional needs and publishing issues. Over 100 authors showed up to discuss the possibilities. In the end 39 RWA members formed the Rainbow Romance Writers online special interest provisional chapter of RWA.

I’m very proud to announce that as of today we are no longer provisional but officially part of RWA! Here is the official announcement from chapter president Jade Buchanan:

Rainbow Romance Writers is the newest Special Interest Chapter within the Romance Writers of America. A lot of hard work has gone into setting us up as a chapter, but we are very proud to announce that writers specializing in LGBT romance now have a specific place to network with other career-focused writers and concentrate on our unique needs within the romance genre.

Our goals are:

* to promote excellence in gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender romances
* to help members become published in LGBT romances
* to be an advocate within the industry for our genre
* to be a resource to our members and others on writing and the publishing industry

We currently have 39 wonderful members who represent all different aspects of the LGBT romance genre.

Interested writers can contact us at membership@rainbowromancewriters.com
if they would like to become members of Rainbow Romance Writers. They can also email me directly at jade.buchanan@yahoo.com

http://www.rainbowromancewriters.com

Here’s a HUGE thank you to everyone involved in making this happen, those in the new chapter and those at RWA who service the interest of the whole romance writing community! KUDOS!

Amazon's missing ranking for Gay fiction

2009-04-12T13:20:00.000-04:00

You may have noticed that rankings and bestseller info has been removed from all a lot of gay romance and gay fiction books in the last few days. It appears that Amazon has decided we are to be hidden from the mainstream.

When Amazon was asked about the missing rankings they responded to one author with:

In consideration of our entire customer base, we exclude "adult" material from appearing in some searches and best seller lists. Since these lists are generated using sales ranks, adult materials must also be excluded from that feature.

Hence, if you have further questions, kindly write back to us.

Best regards,

Ashlyn D
Member Services
Amazon.com Advantage

Plainly, we are being discriminated against by Amazon, shoved into the backroom.

Not all authors of adult fiction are being targeted but it is widespread and rampant. So if you are looking for rankings and bestseller lists of adult or gay fiction, it looks like you'll need to buy directly from the publisher or hit up B&N.

Hopefully next month MLR Press will have the ability in place to buy ebooks directly from the site and print books soon after that. We getting everything in place for direct sales. We value our readers and now we REALLY like Barnes and Noble.

Mexican Heat is a Lambda Finalist!

2009-03-15T16:23:00.001-04:00

I can hardly believe it! Mexican Heat is short listed for best Gay Romance!
God, I can't wait for the awards dinner in NYC later this year!

http://www.lambdaliterary.org/awards/current_finalists.html

Wow, today has been an exciting day!
Laura

Dear Author and Mexican Heat

2009-03-14T23:40:00.001-04:00

Hi all,

There appears to be a contest going on and MEXICAN HEAT is one of the entries! SO COOL! But it also appears I need people to go vote for the book in order to win . The great part is it looks like there are a lot of prizes too!

Here are the details! Can I ask you pretty please to go vote for MEXICAN HEAT? You know, I'm actually kind of really excited about this!

xoxox
Laura

http://dabwaha.com/

Welcome to the 2nd Annual DA BWAHA, Dear Author Bitchery Writing Award for Hellagood Authors. For newcomers, this is a tournament of books that mimics the March Madness tournament of basketball. We’ve picked a slate of 64 books in 8 different categories to compete against each other through the next few weeks.

Your job is to first fill out a tournament bracket which will go live on March 15, 2009. Second, you have to come back and vote in the polls. There will be prizes for the winning ballot at each juncture of the tournament with the grand prize of a Red Sony Reader to go to the ballot that scores the highest. The winning author will also get a Sony Reader.

Review of Mexican Heat!

2008-11-03T14:17:00.001-05:00

Josh and I have been holding our breath waiting for the first review on Mexican Heat, our first collaboration.
It arrived this am.

http://reviewsbyjessewave.blogspot.com/2008/11/mexican-heat.html

We did good. 5+ stars!

Laura

Mexican Heat

2008-10-15T09:05:00.003-04:00

Just thought I'd announce that Mexican Heat has been picked up by Samhain for a February ebook release. The print version will still be coming out with MLR Press in a few weeks but Samhain liked the story and the characters and has contracted the book. Hopefully they will want the whole 3 book series. While Josh and I were planning on a an every 6 month release for these, the books turned about to be more complex and challenging that we thought. So we've revised our plan to put out a book every 12 month instead. It will mean a longer wait but a better story! At least that's the plan!

San Francisco & A Different Light Bookstore

2008-10-01T06:10:00.002-04:00

Authors and pals Jade Buchanan, JL Langley, Laura Baumbach, Ally Blue and Kimberly Gardner on Castro Street a few feet from A Different Light Bookstore in San Francisco.

Moving on

2008-08-13T10:01:00.002-04:00

Mexican Heat is out to my writing partner and on to the editor! We're hoping to make the September release still so be prepared. In the meantime, I'm back at Genetic Snare the sequel to Details of the Hunt.

I had already started this one and had to put it aside for a few things like forming a publishing company and co-writing a series with the awesome and skilled Josh Lanyon, but now I'm back to it.

I even sat down and reread Details to get back into the environment and to get my Aidan groove back in place. It's difficult to jump into the mindset of an 18th century pirate lost in the 26th century world. I have to see things from his POV and remember all the confusion and isolation he must feel along with the wonder and excitement of it all.

And I have to remember his larcenous side, too. My little light-fingered pirate! lol. I Love Aidan. I love it when Talos catches him at it too. Big, stern bounty hunter! It's been a while since the first book. I hope readers remember the guys!

Mexican Heat Snippet!

2008-07-03T10:27:00.002-04:00

I just posted a new little HOT (adult) snippet from my newest M/M WIP with Josh
Lanyon on Fiction With Friction! Enjoy!

http://www.fictionwithfriction.com

Laura

Publisher's Weekly on Erotic Romance

2008-07-01T23:11:00.001-04:00

The June 23rd Publishers Weekly article is on erotica and erotic romance. I'm very pleased with the article because it ends with a quote from me! about gay erotic romance. It also has a great MLR Press ad for A BIT OF ROUGH and HOSTAGE in it! Sweet.

http://www.publishersweekly.com:80/article/CA6572085.html

ManLoveRomance Press Photography Contest!

2008-04-21T15:28:00.002-04:00

ManLoveRomance Press Photography Contest!

My small press is holding an on going contest, involving readers with our books.

Is your talent with a camera good enough to be part of the cover of one of our books? Want a chance at a photo credit in the book? Want a chance to win autographed print copies of your favorite author? FOR MORE INFORMATION check out the website at
http://www.mlrpress.com.

MEXICAN HEAT-- revised and way better!

2008-04-04T21:10:00.001-04:00

I have a new project in the works. Well, an old project that's been updated. And changed and expanded and re-plotted. And all that happened because I tapped a writer friend on the shoulder and said, "I can't get this story to flow. I've hit a wall. Can you give it a look and make a few suggestions?" Well, the friend was author Josh Lanyon and the story was MEXICAN HEAT and what happened after a few days of give and take is that Josh and I are now collaborating on writing the novel! A first for both of us. We'll let you know if it works! I'm excited about it, seriously.

You can read about it in more details on Josh's LJ here:
http://jgraeme2007.livejournal.com/15780.html

It's also expanded to three novels in a series at this point. The first chapter is done as a rough draft. I think it's awesome, me but not me and him but not him exactly. It's very different. I'm writing the second chapter this weekend. I write a chapter and then send it to Josh who works it over and what we end up with is a third unique voice, a blend of his and mine. He does the mystery/crime parts best and I do the romance/sex best and we put them together had shake! LOL! Hopefully what we get in the end will be a new brand of Romantic Crimes series.

Anyway, look for the first one in a few months. We plan on doing one every 6 month working it in between other projects we already had planned. The second in the series is titled TEQUILA SUNRISE. Wish us luck!

Oh, and you know I like to cast actors in my character parts. Think Antonio Banderas(Antonio) and Johnny Depp (Gabriel), please.

Laura

The Lost Temple of Karttikeya wins an EPPIE!

2008-03-12T12:55:00.003-04:00

Okay, you’re probably tired of hearing about it but I haven’t had a chance to prattle on about the awards.

I had already convinced myself I wasn’t even really in the running before I left to attend. The finalist list was announced on a site and my name wasn’t even on it. It turned out to be just a mis-posting, but after being added as what looked like an after thought (but wasn’t), I told my frail and fragile ego that I should just suck it up and realize I didn’t have a chance of winning.

I decided to go to the event because I think it’s important to be present when a committee of your peers nominates you for an honor, win or lose. Okay, yes, there was a spark of hope I couldn’t completely drown that thought maybe my practical side was wrong and I could still MAYBE win. Then I looked at the long list of nominees with me during the awards dinner and the spark flickered lower. Then Jet Mykles, who was sitting with me, won her awards for erotic romance (so well deserved!) and I figured that was it, she won. Reasonably, you can only expect one winner per table, right? So Jet won, the brat! I’m out in the cold for sure!

I practice my gracious loser face. I used it last year when I finaled at EPICon 2007 and lost, so I just dusted it off and tried it on to see if it has gotten too tight like my clothes from last year. Unfortunately, it fit just fine. Damn.

So while I’m practicing my ‘I’m really glad you won’ smile, and listening to Lucy Monroe’s wonderful comments about GLBT romance, Lucy announces my name. I freeze, do a WTF! and jump up. I’m so surprised I can’t think of a damn thing to say. I mean really surprised. If I can’t talk, you know I must be near brain death. I didn’t write a speech, didn’t consider naming appropriate names, or even have a comment ready to champion the genre.

Now granted I was concentrating on not falling on the stairs to the stage up or down (I hurt my back before the event and plane travel and strange beds did NOTHING for it) but you’d think I could come up with at least a sentence besides “what she said”!

So since I didn’t do it then, let me thank a few people now. I want to share the awards (from the display shelve in my house) with Lynne Anderson my editor on The Lost Temple of Karttikeya (the winning novel), and with my publisher, LooseId. Since both of my EPPIE nominations have been for LI stories, I hope they are happy with me!

And I want to thank all the author who collaborated in the COLLECTOR SERIES at LI. My story is #9 in the 9 books series. Without the idea, support and imagination of this group of authors, I wouldn’t have written Lost Temple to begin with. Check them all out here: http://www.collector-series.com/

Laura

EPICon

2008-03-03T10:45:00.003-05:00

Once again this year I've been fortunate enough to have another novel declared a finalist in the electronic publishing's EPPIE awards for a second year running in the GLBT category. This year my action adventure paranormal erotic romance THE LOST TEMPLE OF KARTTIKEYA has been nominated. It's published with LooseId in ebook as #9 in the 9 book THE COLLECTOR series. So I'm off to the conference for a day or so. Wish me luck!
I'll also be participating in a publishers panel and checking out all the M/M authors attending.

Love Romance Cafe's Best of 2007 award nominations!

2007-12-28T17:41:00.000-05:00

I just got the email from Love Romance Cafe. They are notifying authors and publishers of nominations in their Best of 2007 awards.

Scared Stiff has been nominated as Best Anthology 2007! Sarah, Josh, William and my wicked ghost stories! How amazing is that? LOL!

I've also been nominated in the Cafe's Best of 2007 awards in the following three categories:

Best Overall Book 2007: Roughhousing
Best Alternative Lifestyle book 2007: Roughhousing
Best Contemporary 2007: Roughhousing

The Polls open in the cafe on January 1st. and run till the 20th. They will announce the winners on the 21st.
To vote, please go to the cafe yahoo loop and click on polls after January 1st and vote!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/loveromancescafe/

I'm an EPPIE finalist!

2007-12-24T17:06:00.000-05:00

THE LOST TEMPLE OF KARTTIKEYA has been named a finalist in the 2008 EPICon awards in the GLBT category. I'll be going to Portland in March to see if I won this year. Last year I was a finalist with DETAILS OF THE HUNT. It would be fabulous to win, but right now I'm thrilled with being the only author in this category to make the short list two years in a row! It really is exciting. I'm grateful for the opportunity to support EPIC and the recognition for my writing!

Change of plans

2007-12-11T21:23:00.001-05:00

There's been a change of authors for the coming vampire anthology BLOOD CLAIM. J.J. Massa had an unexpected project arise that needs her attention so her story isn't going to be available for press time. But, never fear, the fabulous Jet Mykles has agreed to step in and contribute a short vampire story to the volume! How cool is that? Jet, Angela and me. Now there is an eclectic trio for you! Should have a little something for everyone's taste in M/M vampire erotic romance in this one! Thank you, Jet, it's much appreciated and anticipated!

Channeling ghosts

2007-12-06T20:24:00.000-05:00

In October MLR Press published a ghost anthology with stories from William Maltese, Sarah Black, Josh Lanyon and me titled SCARED STIFF.

We never talked about our stories among us, all four of us just went off and wrote our tales. When it came to editing time, our editor contacted Josh and I and told us our stories were too similar, too many elements were alike, something needed to change. We decided in the long run that it was kind of creepy but kind of cool that the stories, never having been discussed before hand, had turned out so similar.

We both wrote about locations by the sea, broken hearts, ghostly tragic love affairs in the past, mysterious hauntings and even have one character names the same-Mason. It seemed like Josh and I were channeling each other or channeling at least the same spirit! Now I find out there is one more element that defies reasonable logic in the book. It seems that during one scene in my story I inadvertently use the wrong name for the character that Josh and I both used. I call my 'Mason' --- believe it or not-- 'JOSH' during that one scene! I can't believe it. I missed in the re-read, missed it in the edits and missed it in proofing. Just like a ghost, it couldn't be seen!

Cool Weirdness, yes?

Yoga in a Nascar magazine

2007-09-27T10:28:00.000-04:00

I received a pre-release scan of RT's November issue. I see in it they have reviewed Suzanne Brockmann's latest book, All Through the Night, a totally gay romance with her Jules character! Gave it 41/2 stars!

What happened to Carol Stacey's decree that they don't review M/M because their readers don't want it and it would be like "putting yoga in a NASCAR magazine".

I guess we all know money talks loudest and Random House must have a big voice. . Maybe this is the start of NYC houses accepting gay romances along side straight romance. If so, kudos to them and RT! Let's see if other M/M romances that buy ads in RT get reviews.

Internet Radio

2007-08-23T19:51:00.001-04:00

I've just accepted a position to be the host of small weekly broadcast show I'll may/probably/might title Manlove Romance: Love finds its own on a new Internet Radio site. It is a controversy/erotic oriented site. I've been given free rein on my subject matter and my guests. Needless to say, I'm be focusing on writing, erotic romance and gay fiction, the barriers and problems we face (like RT/Hyatt) as writers and publishers of it, finding our audience, why and how, etc. I'll keep you up to date with it as it unfolds. I need to get a better understanding of the whole thing for a few weeks then I'll be up for more creative use of it. I'm still in the planning stages, creating a show name, topics, having banners created for the site and learning how to use the recording equipment. I'll be sure to holler when it's all in place. It'll be a good 6 wks away before the first broadcast show!

DETAILS of the HUNT goes to college!

2007-08-14T22:26:00.000-04:00

Actually, it goes to a university. I just found out recently that my M/M sci-fi adventure erotic romance that was nominated for an EPPIE award has been incorporated into a English class in a Midwestern State University fall 2007 course on "Novel as Genre". It will be available in their campus bookstore! I'm thrilled and more than a little amazed.

The Lost Temple of Karttikeya

2007-08-01T08:10:00.000-04:00

My latest novel is completed. THE LOST TEMPLE OF KARTTIKEYA at LooseId. What started out as a 40,000 word novel became a 56,000 word novel by the end. I just can't do short very well. What can I say, I want to linger on the sex and explore the characters. My idea of flash fiction is creating the title.Which makes my next assignment all the more interesting. I have three short stories due for three separate anthologies.

I love multi-author collections as a reader, especially if I'm unfamiliar with one or more of them. It's like a taste sampler of their work. Let's me try out a new author without committing to an entire novel. But as an author, short stories are a struggle. I want to start at the beginning, not jump into the action right off the start. I want to weave my plots slowly, not slip in back story here and there. I want to have time to set the mood and play with the players. But that's all because I still need to fine tune my writing so that it's tight and concise and flows smoothly. Once I get better at that, I suspect short stories won't make me think about cleaning instead of writing my daily word count goal.

I'll let you know whether the laundry got done or I hit my daily word goal. lol!

RT Letter to Hyatt about the Convention incident

2007-06-07T01:34:00.000-04:00

Above is a copy of a letter I received today from the Hyatt Hotel that included this letter Carol Stacy sent to the hotel. Since the Hyatt felt it important to share a copy of the letter with me, I thought I needed to share it with everyone who has become involved in the incident. Just run your mouse over it and click on it and it will get large enough to read.

As I've said before, no one has to take only my word on any of these occurrences, the way they actually occurred, not the way they are stated above. An editor helped me set out my promo, two publicists witness the removal of my promo, and I was accompanied by another author during the discussion of the removal with RT and the Hyatt people. None of this is 'innuendo and insinuation'. It is all witnessed fact.

I know it may seem petty to some, but while RT was applauding the Hyatt, I didn't notice mention of the dozens of convention attendees that became very ill at this hotel due to the inablity to escape the smoking.

RT-Hyatt Update of a kind

2007-05-16T00:58:00.000-04:00

Now 2 weeks later, RT’s Carol Stacy has been complaining to people that she can’t get hold of me by phone. She has repeatedly called my house. In his opinion, she has been arrogant and demanding to my husband. I work night shift as an ED nurse, have 2 children and was not always present (at work or out of town at Saints and Sinners Book Festival) or not awake to take her calls these last two weeks.

It hasn't been until today that she was civil enough for me to even consider talking to her, but there isn't a thing I'll like to say to her. She had 3 days to talk to me in person at RT about this. It occurred on Thursday and I left on Monday. Never once did she or anyone besides their staff representative discuss it with me even though the staffer did call con organizer on the phone in front of me and a witness to tell her I was there with questions and concerns.

Instead of talking to me personally, the organizer sent Hyatt Customer Service Manager Lance Barnes to talk me. Neither Carol Stacey nor Jo Carol even attempted to speak with me at that time or any other. I was visible and active for the entire conference, including being a captive audience at the book signing for 3 ½ hours.

Talking to me now won't change how they behaved then. I don't see the point in it. I've relayed the witnessed facts about the incident. I haven't asked for a single thing from them but to be treated fairly.

I never said that the Hyatt Customer Service Manager Lance Barnes said it was because of the M/M content. He also didn’t deny it when I stated I thought it was the reason for the removal when his arguments about the location and appearance of the items were refuted by me with facts. Then he suddenly refused to discuss it anymore, immediately turned his back on me and left. He never denied it, not once. All a witnessed event by another author and the RT staffer.

The promo items were placed out of any public area, butted up to all the rest of the promo items. If it was only the location Lance objected to then why was I told I could not return any of it to the promo lane in a new location and if I did it would be removed and taken? That alone tells me it wasn't the location, but the content as the reason it was removed. When my items were removed, others were put in their place in the exact same spot.

I've been told that the Hyatt says they would never interfere with a trade show content. Funny, the guy that said he took down my promo had a Hyatt name plate on his suit.

Thank you all!

2007-05-03T14:40:00.000-04:00

I wanted to take a moment to let everyone know how much I appreciate every word, every thought, and every deed you've all given me on this matter. I'm stunned, thrilled and awed by the responses. They say writing is a lonely occupation. This knocks that expression out of the ball field. I'm damn proud to be an author and part of this community.

Everything I detailed in the previous blog were facts that were witnessed by other people. I'm not relaying a single thing that can't be checked and double checked with other people, including the promo's removal and everything said by RT staff and Hyatt Staff. Every word.

I've been trying to work from within RT's system, to make changes by being a supportive part of the system -- buying ads, being part of the Ball, attending the conference for the last two years. I'm not a rebel or a demanding witch. I'm just working for acceptance of this RWA recognized genre. And I have had readers that came to me from RT ads. I continue to participate in RT cons because they are the only romance gathering around for readers and authors and industry people alike at present. At RT conferences I network with publishers and other authors, as well as publicists and literary agents. Can't do that from home. I feel networking is essential to a career. I'm part of this community and will remain a part of it.

RT/Hyatt Author Targeted

2007-05-01T18:55:00.000-04:00

This last week I attended the yearly Romantic Times convention at the Houston Hyatt. I love the ability to meet face to face all the readers, authors, publishers, bookstore owners and all the other fascinating and intriguing people that come to this event each year. I even participated in the lovely and fun Faery Ball Ball this year with a whole host of fabulous authors. I go to RT to met people and to promote my work just like every other author there. It's a wonderful networking event. I sent 6 boxes of promo items for myself and my ad group of M/M erotic romance and fiction group MANLOVEROMANCE.COM there this year.

The RT promo items I sent didn't arrive until Thursday. I immediate put them up in the appropriate containers RT insisted we use while noting that hundreds of other promo was loose on the tables in violation of this rule. There was no table space left at this point and I refused to move other authors’ items to make room for my own so I utilized several very large boxes sitting at the end of one table. All my items were placed in six rough, manly, woven baskets. Items were disappearing before I got them all out. It was great. However…

By Thursday afternoon my promo was gone. I write gay erotic romance and fiction. I write in a RWA accepted genre. I’m at a romance conference. My writing wins awards. My books are on best selling lists on both Amazon and B&N. My work is good! I own a small press that print publishes only gay erotic romance and fiction, MLR Press. But I couldn’t find my promo and that of the other gay work I represent anywhere.

In its place were now EPIC promo items sitting on the same boxes. I hunted for mine and eventually Luisa Prieto found a small basket with some of the items I brought on another table. Nothing in it was mine but two DETAILS OF THE HUNT bookmarks with the cover on it and a few excerpt cds. Everything with Manloveromance on it was missing. My posters were missing. I couldn’t find the rest until Jade Buchanan saw it in a basket on the table in CLUB RT, shoved into a corner sitting by the people manning the doorway. Sandy Hicks, AMP, and I rescued it and asked why it was there. The very kind but very flustered woman immediately dragged me outside into the hall and stuttered she would call someone to explain things to me. Not a good sign.

Sharon Murphy, RT staff arrived and told me Hyatt personal had removed my things because businessmen (who should not have been in the conference areas to begin with) had complained about them. I found that hard to believe and said so.

Sandy went off to gather other promo that was far more risque than anything we had. While she was gone I began to object and Sharon asked me to come into a closed room. Sandy saw this occur and followed, not allowing anything to be said without a witness on my behalf to be present.

I wanted a better explanation. Sharon denied RT involvement but they certainly didn’t do anything to support an author attending their conference. Instead they willingly, immediately consented. I paid almost $500 registration to attend this conference and promo my work, $1325 to be part of a special promo event, and hundreds of dollars on flights and hotel expenses but my tame, tasteful promo was removed!

First Sharon tried to blame in on the promo being on boxes and not the table but I pointed out that EPIC promo replaced my promo and was currently still on the boxes, so the placement was NOT a legitimate issue.

Then she said it was thought that it was more risque that anyone else’s. Sandy produced other promo items that included a naked woman on her knees in front of a naked man, a woman with her naked buttocks pressed to a man’s naked groin and other items that had bared male chests, bared male thighs and such just like ours. None of our promo had male couples on it except a few bookmarks and since they are yaoi it hard to tell what the sex of the characters. The same bookmarks were not removed from further down the tables. So appearance wasn’t a legitimate issue.

Apparently at a loss for an explanation that would satisfy me she expressed an opinion it was gay related, but that didn’t explain all promo with my name on it being removed, even the postcards for my single mainstream thriller.

She then called Jo Carol, RT event coordinator and had her call the Hyatt customer service manager that made the decision to remove the items, Lance Barnes.
He arrived, briefly introduced himself while standing sideways to me, didn’t offer his hand in introduction, and never made eye contact with me. I made all the same arguments with him, showing examples of the other promo vs ours. He never mentioned the businessmen (that shouldn’t have been allowed in the conference area anyway) objection that Sharon had, but only stated it was 'his decision and that of his peers and boss' to remove it and if I replaced them they would be removed and taken.

His biggest objection was the poster of a single man sleeping in bed with a book and a sheet covering him. I've added it to this blog. Do you find it objectionable? I stated that single poster could have been removed, not all of the promo, so the M/M content must have been what he had issue with. He abruptly ended the brief chat with “I’m not discussing this with you.” Then left the room. This is Hyatt Customer Service.

I was vocal about the event. I told authors, I told publishers. If they will do this to me, they’ll do it to other authors. Word spread and by morning everyone knew about it. Support poured out of the woodwork. Authors of all genres took my promo and put it on their tables during the book signing on Saturday, especially the very supportive Kate Douglas, Lucynda Storey and Stephanie Burke.

At breakfast I ended up meeting two marketing experts who had witnessed the removal of my promo. They stopped the Hyatt employee and questioned it. The Hyatt employee stated he was just doing what his boss told him to do. The women described the event as a “targeted attack”. I have written letters of complaint, as have others.

I'm an unhappy author.

MLR Press-- all M/M erotic romance and fiction

2007-04-11T06:29:00.000-04:00

Early last month I was informed I would be coming back into sudden possession of several of my book contracts early and very unexpectedly. I had retained a literary lawyer (like I should have 3 years ago when I started writing) to terminate a few expired contracts so the process was done cleanly and legally. As a result, as soon as I terminated an expired DUG contact I hadn't been receiving royalties on as agreed, the same publisher pulled ALL of my contracts with them early, kindly stating I had 'outgrown their press'. I guess I have.

That left me rapidly seeking a new publisher to have my books A BIT OF ROUGH and OUT THERE IN THE NIGHT re-issued ASAP since they are both on the best selling lists at B&N and Amazon and I didn't want too much of a lag time to develop when they came off the shelves, so to speak.

But no print publisher is going to grab a book and shove it into their current line up ASAP. At least not for me. J.K. Rowling or Stephen King maybe, but not me. I had tried using Lulu.com in November only to have the company misplace my manuscript for 16--count them-- 16 weeks. They are not an option for more books from me.

At a bit of a loss about my work finding an appropriate, immediate outlet, I came to the conclusion the only thing to do was to form my own small publishing press. I don't know where it will all lead yet. With success, I hope. I'm going to work my damnest to find out. It's a little mystery, a little adventure and a little romance, but all M/M. It's another way I'm promoting the genre I love to write and keeping my writing career alive.

MLR PRESS, LLC is now open. It's an invitation only publisher and it's all M/M erotic romance and fiction. This is my way of furthering the genre I love and believe in.

Come check us out! We've only got a few offerings at present, but in the next few months we'll have more original steamy, seductive stories for you. Peruse out our upcoming releases page. We're all M/M, only M/M. MLR Press presents the work of a select group of some of the best gay fiction and erotic romance authors available including the legendary William Maltese, author of over 150 books, Lambda nominated mystery writer Josh Lanyon, and the award winning, explicit romances of Laura Baumbach. Look for MEXICAN HEAT, GOLD SANDS and the re-printing of the first two ADRIEN ENGLISH Mystery Series FATAL ATTRACTION and A DANGEROUS THING in the coming months.

http://www.mlrpress.com

MLR Press -- Mayhem, lust and romance.
Manlove -- gay erotic romance at its best.

Winner! Best Alternative Lifestyle!

2007-03-12T07:35:00.000-04:00

The First ever LoveRomance Cafe The Best of 2006 Polls are over and these are the results I placed in.

Best Alternative Lifestyle:

A Bit of Rough (Laura Baumbach) WINNER
*********************

Best Erotica:

A Bit of Rough (Laura Baumbach) Honarable Mention
*************

Thank you LR Cafe for holding these Reader Awards polls and honoring the work presented there.

3 Top Ten Placings

2007-02-22T08:45:00.000-05:00

I'm so stunned and I need to say it out loud to believe it. I have three M/M stories top ten placings in the P&E polls.

My Werewolf novel, Out There in the Night has placed in the top ten of the 2006 P&E Readers Poll for Romance novels.
http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/votenovelromance06.htm

Details of the Hunt has been placed in the top ten of the 2006 P&E Readers Poll in the SciFi novel category.
http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/votenovelsf06.htm

Enthralled placed #8 in the Horror Shot story category.
http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/votesshorror06.htm

I can't say how flattered I am by all the support and encouragement this shows.
I swear I'll write even more this year for all the great readers out there.
Thank you all so very, very much. I'm honored.

M/M writer of 2006

2007-02-15T10:52:00.000-05:00

I've been honored by being named M/M writer of 2006 on the REC group. I'm flattered and honored by the award with voters being readers in the romance community. What a wonderful compliment!

Virginia Beach B&N booksigning

2007-02-11T07:59:00.001-05:00

BOOKSIGNING AT B&N
with Award-winning, Best-selling M/M erotic Romance author
LAURA BAUMBACH

March 8th from 6-9pm at Barnes and Noble
4485 Virginia Beach, VA

Join me, author of A Bit of Rough, Roughhousing, Out There in the Night, and EPPIE nominated Details of the Hunt, for an evening of fun and socializing!

I'll be joining outstanding authors Sherrilyn/Kinley MacGregor, Brenna Lyons, Larry and Lorna Collins, Cat Johnson, Philippa Grey-Gerou, Lee Rowen, Vivien Dean, Samantha Sommersby, Jeff Strand, Lynne Hansen, Linda Bleser/LB Milano, Marilyn Meredith, Sherry Wille, Elaine Corvidae, Darlene Marshall, Pauline Baird Jones, Janet Lane Walters, Jane Toombs, Sarah Winn, Gloria Oliver, Patricia Harrison and Margaret Carter.

This event id in relationship withthe EPPIE Awards Conference. Also EPICON will host, for the first time, panels on GLBT and BDSM this year, and the GLBT will be headed by guess who? Me! Other authors scheduled on the GLBT panels are Timothy Kelley, L. Picaro, Jolie du Pre, Emily Veinglory, Jodi Payne, Lee Rowan, CB Potts, and Willa Okati. ... There's also still time to register for the full convention...Feb 15th deadline on that. Check it out at http://www.epic-conference.com/

If anyone lives in the area, come out and see me! Please!

Roughhousing -sequel to A Bit of Rough

2007-01-10T07:23:00.000-05:00

http://www.torquerepress.com/cart/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=850

About Rough Housing by Laura Baumbach

James and Bram are back in this sequel to the bestselling A Bit of Rough! They’ve been dating a while, now, but James is still unsure about his feelings for Bram. He’s rushed into things before, and it’s always backfired on him, so James wants to take it slow.

Bram is so forceful, though, so sexy and convincing that it’s hard to stand fast against him. In fact, Bram is the one steady thing in James’ life, when everything else seems to be shifting like sand under his feet. His job is getting stressful, his apartment is getting dangerous, and James knows he’s teetering on the brink of change, but is unsure
what to choose.

When a project at work seems to have fallen under Bram’s influence through the old boy network, James decides to back off and tell Bram they have to cool down their heated relationship. Bram is willing to accommodate James…to a point. But what happens when self-assured Bram has had enough of James’ insecurity?

Taking up where A Bit of Rough left off, Roughhousing opens up Bram and James’ relationship, following along as they become a real couple, and face the troubles that come from trying to blend two lives and two independent personalities. Their need for each other burns as hot as ever, but will that be enough to build a life on?

I hope you all like it as much as the first on in the series.!

Sincerely,
Laura

New Interview at FAR

2007-01-02T19:20:00.000-05:00

Check it out at:
http://www.fallenangelreviews.com/Interviews/2006/Dec06-Teresa-LauraBaumbach.htm

I've been nominated for an EPPIE award

2007-01-01T21:07:00.000-05:00

Details of the Hunt, a sci-fi M/M erotic romance has been announced as one of the four finalists in the GLBT category of the 2006 EPPIE Awards. Winners will be announced in Virgina Beach during the March 8-11 EPICON awards.

NYC Erotic Expo-- What a Trip!

2006-12-19T23:29:00.000-05:00

NYC was noisy, fast-paced, intriguing, fun, irritating, exhausting, confusing, delightful and a hell of a lot of work. Did I mention exhausting?

Thursday: I managed to get all the many luggage bags check in at the train station after a little talking. The train ride was 8 hours, but not so bad. I sat next to a man who commuted every week since August because of a new job, but house, wife and kids were still in Rochester til the end of the school year.

Once at Penn Station I got Red cap to grab the luggage and he took through the underground garage to a taxi stand. Sweet, helpful man, but I have to admit to being nervous when I was the only passenger in the freight elevator and in the dark garage for a bit. Then a cabbie driving a minivan showed up but tried to to refuse to take me and luggage because it would 'scuff' his upholstery. It's a CAB for crying out loud! The red cap convinced him I was 'a nice woman'. He was still a PIA until he asked me what I did and I told him I was an author and wrote about everyone I met, especially the unpleasant people. He was a tad nicer than, but not less than 3 cops threatened to pull his cabbie license by the time he dropped me off at the hotel and dumped me and my luggage in the street. I ran in, got a bellman to help me and we lugged it all up the steps to the lobby without anyone taking it from the street before we got back.

That night two firends and I went to dinner and then to see the Broadway play WICKED. It was awesome beyond words. I bought the sound track and a green monkey. We walked around Times Square and stopped and had drinks then got back to the hotel around 3am.

Friday: We all did a little foot tour of the city, visiting Greenwich Village, the Oscar Wilde book store, visited a toy store where I got some unique stuffed animals for my youngest, and it included seeing a awesome cathedral of St. John the Divine where we were fortunate enough to stumble upon a rehearsal for a concert that night that included Paul Winter. It was amazing to sit in this breathtaking cathedral and listen to this beautiful, music. The man singing was doing it in Portuguese and the clarinet was a mirrored reflection of his tone and voice that was too amazing for words.

We grabbed lunch at the Stardust Dinner where all the waiters and waitresses sing songs from the fifties while you eat. They were all Broadway performers and the music was very cool. One girl was from Chorus Line. That evening we went to see the Rockettes, which was beautiful. The 3-D part of the show was amazing. We were exhausted from walking around all day and called it a night early.

Saturday: I hit the Hard Rock Cafe. By noon we managed the ordeal of the luggage to another cab who was much more gracious and helpful. We arrived at the Puck Building and spent the next couple of hours setting up the booth. It was a very interesting and productive day. All of the men there were sweet, delightful and helpful. But by far the most popular items we had was our scissors. Our single pair of scissors saw more action then the rentboys at the event did. If only I had know what drew men during my dating years!)

We saw a good amount of traffic and talked ourselves hoarse. Literally, I'm still raspy this morning. We sparkled, handed out promo items, pushed the books, and talked and talked and talked. By the end of the day we were all exhausted but very happy.

Sunday: Was a great repeat of Staurday, just shorter. We handed out over 500 cds and most of the flyers and postcards. A lovely man came by the booth and quizzed me about just about everything. Turns out he runs a radio spot and site at newyorkcool.com. He left with promo items, a ton of conversation and books to review for us and publish on his site. I let him choose whatever he wanted. http://www.newyorkcool.com/

We packed up at the end of the day and Deana and I dragged everything out to the street with the help of 3 sweet young things who got us a cab and helped load it up for us. Bellman helped again to get back into the hotel where I spend about an hour trying to rearrange it for the weight limits for the train. We ordered Chinese and dropped into bed. The weekend was fabulous but draining.

Monday: Had to redo the luggage at the check-in station after the morning cabbie abandoned us in the street again about a half a block from the station. A kind and helpful red cap rescued us after I walked to the station twice to ask for help. The check-in guy was nice too, letting me slide on some of the weights.

Made it home, at last. It was a great weekend, met a ton wonderful people and loved almost even minute of it--well, except the cabbie parts. It should take me about a week to recoop!

NYC and Men

2006-11-04T07:50:00.000-05:00

I've gotten the chance to travel to NYC during the Christmas season and I'm thrilled! Manloveromance.com will be hosting a booth a the GayEroticExpo in NYC (lots of gorgeous half-clothed men, I hope) during the weekend of Dec. 16-17 and I'm excited to announce I'll be one of the authors working the booth. It's being held in the fabulous Puck Building at 259 Lafayette Street. We'll have a ton of excerpt cds and free giveaways, as well as erotic romance books to sell, and a drawing to win a cool trunk of great gifts for signing up for our announcements only newsletter.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/manloveromancenews/

And I get to shop in NYC before Christmas! I want to see the Rockette, a broadway play(I don't even care which one!) and the tree at Rockefeller Plaza! I'm a total tourtist! LOL!

If you live in the area, drop by and see us! We love to chat to readers!

Laura

My sentiment for the day!

2006-10-25T14:37:00.000-04:00

couldn't resist

2006-10-24T22:54:00.000-04:00

I found this little number on someone else's site and had to share it. This is what I call breakfast in bed! Now I just have to find the hotel with it on the room service menu!

manloveromance.com newsletter!

2006-10-04T00:22:00.000-04:00

Manloveromance News is the new monthly newsletter for thirty (plus) of the hottest authors of male/male erotica and romances worldwide.
Each month we will update you on members' new releases, reviews, appearances and other tidbits. Our first newsletter will be going out on
October 15th. Subscribe now and keep updated on the latest in the sensual world of M/M erotic romance and fiction by some of THE best
authors you'll find anywhere in print and on the Net. This is an announcements only list.

Our authors include: Evangeline Anderson, Kayelle Allen, Lena Austin, Mardi Ballou, Laura Baumbach, Ally Blue, James Buchanan, Kirby Crow, Kay Derwydd, Vincent Diamond, Leigh Ellwood, Erastes, Renee George, Fiona Glass, Sedonia Guillone, Nathan James, Timothy Kelley, Jourdan Lane, JL Langley, Marguerite, William Maltese, Renee Manley, D.J.Manly, Sean Michael, Willa Okati, S.A.Payne, CB Potts, Luisa Prieto, Nigel Puerasch, M.L.Rhodes, Kira Stone, Julia Talbot with the talents of graphics artist Deana Jamroz.

To subscribe people can go here: manloveromancenews-subscribe@yahoogroups.com This an announcements only list.

--
Laura Baumbach
http://www.laurabaumbach.com
http://www.manloveromance.com
http://www.manloveauthors.com

Weho '06

2006-09-21T06:40:00.000-04:00

West Hollywood Book Fair was very good this weekend. I'm thinking of doing a manloveromance booth there next year. I met the treasurer of the West Hollywood library and I'm checking to see what it'll take to get print books into the library.

I met a producer/screenwriter doing the current Stephen King horror film and she gave me tips about were to promo my vampire stuff and walked away with one of my vampire books under her arm.

Then I ate lunch with a young lady who turned out to be a journalist for the West Hollywood Reporter and she did a little tiny interview with a friend and I. We gave her business cards so she could spell the names right if she used our chat.

Then I met a woman who lives in West Hollywood who said she was a poet and literary consultant for Simon and Schuster. She gave me her card. We chatted about vampires, (she loves the metaphysical), and then she told me she was planning a TV spot about the subject and asked if she could interview me for it. I screamed yes, of course. Well, maybe not screamed but I did tell her any part of my life from this moment on that she wanted for the interview was hers. She took a copy of my vampire book with her. I don't know if any of these people were serious, but I handed out a lot of cards.

Tom of Finland had a booth with just had a little tiny tiny sign that said ADULTS ONLY next to the chained, gagged, collared, bound, naked man pictures. Cool. I didn't buy any, but I did accept the free postcard. And I spent a ton of money at the LA Coroners booth. I have a thing for chalk lines. There are so many people I think a chalk outline would look good on sometimes.

Had a delightful evening of chatting and getting to know some local authors Friday night. Saturday was spent shopping at The Pleasure Chest were I ended up giving my cards to the cashier when she expressed an interest in my writing. She promptly said she'd give it to their book buyer to check out. Then I went window shopping on Rodeo Drive. I can't believe any women in her right mind shops in 3inch heels. So all the females in Beverly Hills are insane. Period. Had dinner with my LA print publisher at The Cheesecake Factory and then went clubbing with friends. We hit the Rage, the Abby, and the Voodoo Room in West Hollywood. Soaked up all the atmosphere and fun we could along with a few drinks.

Booksigning in West Hollywood

2006-09-11T03:09:00.000-04:00

I'm having a booksigning at the Sybartic Press Booth:

5th Annual West Hollywood Book Fair
Sunday, September 17, 2006
10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
West Hollywood Park, 647 N. San Vicente Blvd.

If you live in the area, come see me!

Laura

RT Poll on M/M PLEASE GO VOTE!

2006-09-07T18:40:00.000-04:00

RT has rejected my proposal for a m/m discussion panel this year but they are looking for reader support to make an informed decision for the future apparently.
Please go here and vote, no matter what your opinion on the subject is. Let our voice be heard. Let M/M romance for women have it's rightful place in RT's reviews.

Laura

It's a poll asking about interest in m/m
romances.

http://www.romantic times.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4005

RT rejects M/M discussion panel

2006-09-07T11:19:00.000-04:00

Sadly, I just received word from RT that they have rejected the proposal to hold a M/M discussion panel this next year.
It was to be hosted by Kate Douglas, Joey Hill, Emily Veinglory and myself.

Here is their reasoning:

Unfortunately we are not ready to have a panel on this quite yet. Perhaps next year.
We already have a lot of erotica at our convention and we have to be sensitive to the attendees who will view this type of workshop as a departure for us.

My reply was thus:

With all due respect, actually, I do understand. I understand that you are woefully behind the times. This reasoning is inadequate to mask prejudice. Attendees who don't wish to hear about M/M erotic romance have the option not to attend the panel discussion. No one is forced to attend or to listen to anything at RT they don't want to. I'm a straight, married, Christian woman with children, in my 50's and I can't believe RT continues to deny a popular, respected and growing market. I'm disappointed in RT and so will my readers be.

To say I'm disappointed is an understatement. But possibly next year RT will be less... restrictive.

Laura

Amazon Ranking 8/31/06

2006-08-31T22:11:00.000-04:00

I just went to Amazon.com to see what ranking my novel was at to try and sway a publisher with my 'somewhere in the top 50' ranking and found not one, but two of my novels in the top 3 slots for best-selling gay erotic fiction! OUT THERE IN THE NIGHT, a werewolf paranormal is #2 and A BIT OF ROUGH, a contemporary romance is #3!

I was on my way to bed, but I can't sleep now!

Gay ghost novel by Steve Berman

2006-08-30T20:01:00.000-04:00

For something a bit different, Steve Berman has a new ghost novel out. You can read the first chapter of it here:

www.steveberman.com/vintage1.html

And you can buy the book at

http://www.haworthpress.com/store/product.asp?
sid=5TPEB7TH4HWA9NHVSUJ8KM6XESEJ80SF&sku=5760&AuthType=4

pictures of the characters from "Sparrows"

2006-08-25T04:16:00.000-04:00

Just in case you'd like to see who I'd pick to play the parts of my thriller characters in real life!

New MAINSTREAM political thriller release coming up 9/8/06!

2006-08-25T03:48:00.000-04:00

My newest release is something out of the ordinary for me. It's the first novel I ever wrote and it's a mainstream thriller with Aspen Mountain Press at:
http://www.aspenmountainpress.com/coming-soon/coming-soon/flight-of-the-sparrows/prod_16.html.

Here's short synopsis for it.

Flight of the Sparrows

"Forty-one and single, Lt. Commander Daniel Burke is a man on the brink of change. Head of a US Army covert operations unit for fourteen years, he is beginning to feel the effects of time on his body and mind, as well as the impact on his personal life. Committed to his three teammates as brothers, he is torn between remaining in the service and leaving to seek a more fulfilling life. Surprisingly, both a career change and a change in his lack of family life come from his next mission.

Burke and his men, Jackson Burr, Ethan James and Spencer Weston, are tossed into an elaborate assassination plot rooted in greed, perversion and vigilantism spanning two continents. A pivotal player in the conspiracy turns out to be a British youth, Quill Tarquin. The teenager has an eidetic memory and a mysterious past that connects him to directly to Burke."

It's a bit different than my M/M erotic romances, of course. No sex, and a tiny dash of romance, but a lot of action and emotion. Guns, murder, chaos, mystery--all the things I like to write about if I can't write about M/M sex!

sexual content

2006-08-22T04:53:00.000-04:00

I like more than just a tease or taste of an intimate relationship if it is going to be a part of storyline. That's why i writer erotic romance. But I have read several of the Mark Manning series and while I enjoyed the books, I felt like the intimacy between the two main characters was glossed over.

I was disappointed that I couldn't get a better sense of why one man gave up his flourishing career in one state, one that was dependant of a loyal clientele to grow, his custom built, gorgeous home he had designed himself, and and all of his friends and associates to move away and start over with the other man at ground zero again.

I know they were in love, but I never got that sense of passioante depth out of the books. Did I miss something or am I expecting too much from novels that put a love interest in them?

How much sexual content do you expect in any fiction book(adventure, romance, mystery, historial, paranormal) you read where there is a romantic relationship as a part of the storyline with the major characters? How much do you WANT to have in the story?

discussion from the gay forum on amazon.com

2006-08-16T01:03:00.000-04:00

I'm exploring the site with the justmanga.com on it now. Interesting! It's a bit disorienting to read right to left at first, but I'm getting the hang of it. The artwork in FAKE isn't as fey as the ones I have seen.

I have to wonder if the yaoi that is popular with people right now is just filling the void because M/M erotic romances with a western POV of men aren't available yet?

My M/M romances ARE different than the Japanese M/M romances. My men are western versions of men. I favor strong, brawny men in my life and in my work.

I kind of feel the need to adopt fey, willowy young men, not find a another one of them to match them with. Sigh. Must be my age. UGH! Forget I said that! I'm 30, tall, blond, thin -- oh, never mind! You've probably already seen my picture! Can you believe it? I paid a fortune for that head shot and it still looks like me! Stupid camera!

I think I'm going to order a volume of Fake, probably the last one with the graphic sex in it because I want to see how they approach it in comparision to my writing and yes, because I'm hoping it's hot. The guys in the artwork have broad shoulders even if they are too beautiful for real men (other than Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom-in my lustfilled opinion)so maybe the "I need to adopt you thing" wouldn't be a problem. It kills the moment big time.

manloveromance.com

2006-08-15T00:35:00.000-04:00

I've been discussing why I read and write eoritc M/M romances over on the Amazon.com Connect Gay/Lesbian forum these last few days. I've learned a lot from other authors and readers about the subject, too. I found a few new things to try reading and new authors to explore. But mainly, I've found my own reasons for liking M/M erotic romance to be echoed by many other straight women on the forum or through private emails sent to me as a result of the forum discussion.

Simply put, we love men and reading about sensitive, caring, manly men is irresistable and hot to us. I don't think the mystery of why straight women like gay erotic romance goes any deeper than that. One hot, passionate man in bed--delicious. Two steamy, ravenous men in love together and in bed together--there isn't anything better.

Except doing it with my own man! And who needs to write about that when you are fortunate enough to actually just go and do it!

Adrien with an "e"

2006-08-10T06:01:00.000-04:00

I've found a mystery sleuth and his new writer that I adore. The Adrien English mystery series by Josh Lanyon. The stories are fun and intriguing, the characters real and involving and the style straightforward and engaging. I read the first and the third book in the series (the only one's I could get in ebook format instantly) in one day and ordered the second one from a used book store on Amazon. I can't wait for it to arrive.

The main character is Adrien English, he's smart, real, gay and curious in a way that gets his life twisted around the mysteries and events happening to and near his problematic life. From an unconventional mother to a thick-headed, resistant boyfriend having trouble being happy with his sexuality, Adrien's adventures are interesting, engrossing and touching. I'm looking forward to every new book Josh Lanydon writes! His first book is a free download at the moment. Check out his site here:

http://www.joshlanyon.com

Laura

Why do you read M/M romances?

2006-08-04T09:08:00.000-04:00

I'm trying to gather data for a proposal for a M/M erotic romance discussion panel. So if you'd like to help me out or just want to express yourself about the topic, feel free to email me at sensualwriter.laura@gmail.com or post your message here and I'll add it to my findings. Every opinion counts! Your reason's are just as valid as the next reader's are so let's hear them!

I write M/M erotic romances because I think the erotic part is HOT! I love men and think two men together is twice as hot. All that raw, sweaty power and muscle twisted around more lithe, sweaty, sinewy flesh, kissing, cuddling, possessing and pounding each other into sated bliss. What's not to love? The romance part is the best, though, where I can write these same hot men as sensitive, caring, romanctic individuals with flaws and strengths and needs and convictions. It's all good.

Now tell me why you READ it.

Deadlines and heat

2006-08-01T11:47:00.000-04:00

I'm working feverishly to finish up Roughhousing this month. It's the sequel to A Bit of Rough I've been fleshing out for the last 2 months. I'm shutting down my email(kind of), turning off my phone(to keep work from trying to get me to pick up extra shifts), and shutting the door to my office. I'm not sure what to do with the kids besides gift them with a dozen playstation games and hope they'll stay in their rooms for the next month. If it weren't for the suffocating heat and humidity all around me, I'd almost be happy in my little cone of writing silence. I'm not sure which is hotter, my story or the room I'm working in. An believe me, the story is HOT!

Vampire cover art from an unexpected source

2006-07-20T07:42:00.000-04:00

Although soon everyone in my house but me will be having a birthday, I'm the one that got a present the other day. My oldest son, a very talented artist for 15 (even if he doesn't believe it) presented me with a piece of art he had designed. It was cover art for a story he wants me to write, a dark vampire/heavy metal rock band tale (with lots of girls in it. So sad, so teenage boyish!) But when I saw the great cover, I decided I had to write some kind of story to go with it.

It's on the carousel on my front page. Look for the cover titled "Monster". The human/vampire skull with the awesome fanged incisors and the text with fanged letters was too sweet not to use! I may throw in some girls to make him happy, and a dash of heterosexual activity, but I doubt I'll stray far from my usual pairings. When he made the quitar picture above for the back cover, I knew I had to do something with it! Too cool!

ahead of Anne Rice

2006-07-16T14:29:00.000-04:00

I just found out this morning that my M/M erotic novel, A Bit of Rough, is ranked #1 on B&N bestselling erotic fiction list out of 1,367 titles. It puts me ahead of Anne Rice's Sleeping Beauty Trilogy! I also was #195 on the entire B&N bestselling list for the entire site for a brief but shining moment today and I have been #1 on their gay erotic fiction list for the last week! I'm so excited! And they say there isn't a market for M/M erotic romance out there! Raspberrries to all disbelievers!
Laura
http://www.laurabaumbach.com
http://sybpress.com

DETAILS OFTHE HUNT is released today!

2006-07-11T07:45:00.000-04:00

Piratical Persuasion -
Details of the Hunt
Laura Baumbach
Length: Novel
Price: $6.99
http://www.loose-id.net/detail.aspx?ID=286

A 26th century, time-traveling, bounty hunter, Talos, snatches a 18th century Earth pirate in a deal with an unscrupulous buyer, but he develops an unexpected, but undeniable and instant physical attraction for his likable, free-spirited, but larcenous prey. When wild, primal passion overrides duty and honor, will the love of the wily, cock-sure, young pirate be enough for the stoic hunter to risk exile from his own people?

Horoscopes

2006-07-06T02:25:00.000-04:00

My horoscope says Jupiter is moving into my horizon and this will bring good things to my career and reputation. I usually read those things for the fun value, not to judge my day’s events. However, considering the great month I’ve had so far for July, I’m beginning to wonder.

Last week I sold a short story to MEN magazine. Great exposure and the magazine has the reputation of offering good erotic stories for readers. I love to reach new readers! I’m a feedback addict. I admit it. It thrills me to know people are reading my work and enjoying it! I love to entertain, whether it be at a party or with my writing.

Then yesterday I got an email telling me a short story of mine, the original precursor to the A Bit of Rough novel, has been accepted by Alyson Books, (so thrilling) for inclusion in their ULTIMATE GAY EROTICA 2007 publication!

And to top the last seven days off, my M/M advertising group MANLOVEROMANCE.COM has just had their ad go live on ADVOCATE.COM, OUT.COM and OUTTRAVELER.COM.

Maybe I SHOULD be reading my horoscope and planning my day around it!

South of the Border--New Release

2006-06-26T15:10:00.000-04:00

This Friday, my short story, SOUTH OF THE BORDER, will be released with Forbidden publications. Short, hot and steamy!

http://www.forbiddenpublications.com/book_pages/south_of_the_border.html

Faery Balls, author groups and writing time

2006-06-25T18:02:00.000-04:00

It’s been a very active week. First, I got a brainstorm for a promotional idea, so I had to get busy and see if it would work.

I’ve organizing a group of M/M erotic romance writers to form a advertising co-op so that we can pool our funds and afford to run ads in bigger mainstream and gay publications and websites. I bought a domain name, Manloveromance.com, got a friend to design a website, put my dear, darling husband to work creating the site. Then I advertised for interested authors, got 20 of them to make a financial commitment, organized their info, and researched media kits for all the publications that reach our target audiences--gay men and straight women who like romantic M/M pairings. And then made phone calls and a flurry of emails to put the arrangements in place. We go with an ad on line with the Advocate.com soon.

Phew! I hope this all works out for everyone involved. We have a terrific group of authors with a diverse range of work that should appeal to a wide array of readers. I hope they find us and we can entertain them!

Mid-week, I was asked to join the group of delightful authors that sponsors the Faery Ball at the RT convention each year! What a fun thing to get involved with! The Ball last month was terrific, full of fun costumes, party people and great gifts and activities. It was one of the highlights of the convention for me. I’m thrilled to be part of it for next year. Now, I have to work on finding the perfect faery costume for Houston next April! I’m not very faeryish-looking, but I love shiny things! My motto is 'pretty, pretty, shiny, shiny’!

Now, inbetween all these things, the kids are off from school for the next 87 days (who's counting?) I have two rapidly approaching deadlines and I’m looking for places to lock myself into to get a bit of peace and quiet to finish up “ROUGHHOUSING”. Although, I admit it, I love writing these guys and I hate the thoughts of leaving them behind again when this one is finished. They are always making out! To be so passionately in love with a new man! Bram and James are so hot!

Speaking of which, I need to go make dinner of the horde of men living in my house.

Roughhousing a sequel to A Bit of Rough

2006-06-20T11:44:00.000-04:00

I'm writing a sequel, Roughhousing, to my m/m contemporary erotic romance A Bit of Rough. Revisiting the characters of James and Bram has been a complete delight. I adore both men, understand their flaws and sympathize with their fears. I revel in their carnal energies, amazed at how often they pull me into their bedroom with them. Men really are insatiable. And they don’t always use the bedroom. The scene I working on today is a bit of passionate lovemaking in the front seat of a king cab pick-up truck. A piece of work for our guys to accomplish, but they rise to the occasion.

But in writing this, I have a few fears of my own. A Bit of Rough is very popular. It’s won awards, been nominated for both a CAPA and a Passionate Plume Finalist, received the #4 slot in the Preditors and Editors Readers Poll and is the publisher’s best-selling novel to date. That’s a bit of awesome history to live up to. I try not to let all that affect my writing of the Roughhousing, but at the back of my mind I keep asking myself ‘will this one measure up? Will readers like it as well as they did the first one?” A little nerve wrecking.

But the nice thing about Roughhousing is that James and Bram DO take over the book. They write their own story. The entire novel is flowing right out my fingertips like sweet, slippery gel and oozing over the keyboard. They make the storytelling easy and fun. Granted, they keep a lot of it in the bedroom, but then new relationships, especially between healthy men, do spend a lot of time exploring the physical side of their partnership. I know I always did. Luckily my marriage remains new even after all these years. Picking the right man and holding on to him is so important. Something Bram knows and James is learning.

As to the question of whether or not readers will like it as well as A Bit of Rough? I’ll just have to finish this little puppy and get it out there and see! Maybe, they’ll like it even better!

speedy rejections

2006-06-14T21:41:00.000-04:00

If EC is nothing else, they are quick! I submitted a short story on 6/8, got an email stating they had recieved it on 6/9, and I got a rejection notice on 6/13! They said 'the writing was good and the story very well plotted, but it wasn't right for us'. That left two things they might not have liked. Either the vampire/human pairing or the m/m romance. Damn, I like both of those!

I moped and sniffed for awhile, and then I sent it out to another publisher. I even thought about writing another one for EC, without the vampires, but that won't do me any good if the m/m romance part is what they didn't like.

I LOVE writing m/m and that isn't going to change, so I guess I'll have to just write that new one and try EC again until I get it right!

writing short stories

2006-06-06T00:48:00.000-04:00

I just finished writing a short story, under 12,000 words,(for submission to EC's Cavemen anthologies), and I had to mop my brow when it was all completed because I JUST managed to make it in under the word limit. Thank goodness!

I find it so hard to write short! Developing two unique individual characters that readers can relate to and find interesting, plotting a believable storyline that brings them together into a romance and makes sure the sex fits into the developing relationship is difficult for me to accomplish in a short story! Every time I do it, I worry I've left readers feeling like they missed something. I must need more practice, which means writing more books and short stories. I'll have to find some anthologies looking for m/m romances! EEEK!

Charity

2006-05-23T22:40:00.000-04:00

Is a wonderful thing. I donated a few dollars to a worthy charity at RT and they made me get my picture taken with Ellora's Cavemen in return. It was a struggle, but I manged to bear it. Men, I so love men!

RT and Manlove

2006-05-22T23:17:00.000-04:00

If I found out nothing else at RT I discovered this-m/m erotic romance for women is not a recognized market in the publishing industry. Readers loved it, asked for it and about it, but most print publishers deny an audience for it exists.

Even Harlequin has decide straight women would enjoy f/f romance in their new Spice line more than ones with delicious, hot, primal men in them. I have yet to understand that particular reasoning. I love men. I want men in my romances, and two men are better than no men in a story. M/m readers do exist, by the thousands.

I want to help raise the awareness of the NY print houses to the existence of some of the hottest stories out there, MANLOVE.

Romantic manlove erotic fiction has been around for over thirty years, since the first Kirk/Spock fanfiction was written and it's not going anywhere. There are thousand of sites devoted to slash fiction and hundreds of thousands of readers looking for quality stories, most, but not all, are women. A recent Wall Street Journal article that state 60% of Brokeback's audience is female.

Manlove *is* a part of the romance community. E publishers get it, small print publishers get it. Now we need to have the big guys get it if we want more quality manlove fiction made available to us. Please consider dropping a note to the addys below. Maybe then we could see some action. It would also help to mention and include the link for a certain book's status on Amazon or B&N. Be polite. And numbers count. Let's make our voices heard.

Publishers: Dorchester Publishing Co., Inc.
customerservice@dorchpub.com

Kensington Publishing Corp.
Hilary Sares, Editor
kensingtonmarketing@kensingtonbooks.com

Manlove or writing m/m erotic romances

2006-05-05T19:30:00.000-04:00

In the effort to spread understanding about and interest in m/m romances and my writing, I wrote a little article about manlove and submitted it to the Passionate Ink newsletter. Guess what? It's been accepted for publication for the July issue! I'm so excited! I wish I could be there personally, but I won't be going to the RWA convention this year, but some of my thoughts will be present in the form of this article.

I'm a Passionate Plume RWA contest finalist!

2006-04-30T08:16:00.000-04:00

I go the news last week and I couldn't be more thrilled! My m/m erotic romance novel is a finalist in a RWA contest! I was very honored and so pleased by it, I could hardly think straight for a moment when I got the notification. The full impact of a m/m romance finalizing didn't actually hit me until the congratulations began pouring in and other, more experienced authors began to tell me of outstanding it was for my novel to be included. I'm even more honored and surprised now than I was before. Just plain thrilling!

A Different Light BookStore

2006-04-28T19:09:00.000-04:00

While surfing the internet and googling my name for information about myself(I learn many things about me this way) I found my m/m erotic novel A BIT OF ROUGH listed on the online catalog for the LA based gay book store A DIFFERENT LIGHT! Imagine how thrilled I was to see it. I don't know if that means they are carrying it on the shelves, but I loved seeing on their web page. Can B&N be far behind?

advertising payoffs

2006-04-23T20:01:00.000-04:00

I picked up the current copy of RT book club magazine today. I have an ad running it from the TRS and I wanted to see how it looked. Even though it was a black and white ad it was very nice and clear, showcasing the five novels well. I decided it was worth the money spent when I saw it, but I was convinced of its worth even more when I received an email from a friend who does a lot of Live Journal reading.

She stumbled across a LJ entry by someone who enjoys m/m romance and saw the ad. This woman was amazed and EXCITED to see a m/m romance in the RT magazine. She was hoping it would become a trend for RT. Her comments pleased and encouraged me. Even if one person sees the ad, checks out my website or reads my books, the genre is making headway. Maybe acceptance of m/m erotic romance will find a place on bookshelves soon, as well.

sequels and thrillers

2006-04-12T09:46:00.000-04:00

That's what I'll be doing the rest of the year. I'm writing a sequel to "A BIT OF ROUGH" titled "ROUGHHOUSING" now. I'm thrilled readers liked the first story enough to want more of the characters of James and Bram! I love those hotties!

Then I'll polish up my thriller m/m romance between Gabriel and Antonio, "MEXICAN HEAT", and get that out there for all the world to read.

Need to dabble in little in the DUG vampire world, too, before the fall!

After that, I'm going to write the next book that follows the adventures of my pirate and bounty hunter, Aidan and Talos, in "DETAILS OF THE HUNT". I know no one has read that one yet, but I adore the characters and the humor in that world. I have enough plotlines to write at least six more adventures for them, so I HAVE to write it! I haven't picked a title yet, but it'll let itself be known to me soon. They always do!

Kinda weird to have the rest of my year planned out for me by fictional characters, but I think I'm going to have some fun!

Chatting

2006-03-28T06:55:00.001-05:00

I just finished writing my latest m/m s/f romance last week, "Details of the Hunt" for LooseId and I was going to spend this week relaxing. Well, that lasted about one day! Several opportunties to do chats and promo days on a number of net sites popped up and I've beem chatting and posting and meeting all kinds of new people. I even had the opportunity to venture a novel proposal to a publisher during one! Cool, huh?
I'm spending next week working on a screenplay and a piece of fiction I pormised to a zine. I think I'll have to work by night and not check my email to get anything done!
And Ecateromance just changed their policy and now accept m/m romances for review. I sent them two of mine. Let's see if they like them, now! I'm drumming my fingers in anticipation on that one.

Naked Drummer Boy logo

2006-03-24T06:57:00.000-05:00

I had a new logo designed to go with my catch phrase "writing to the beat of a different drummer' and this is what the artist Sinammin created for me. I'm putting it on my site and on totes and coffee mugs for interested readers and for giveaways during contest! I like it. I keep wondering how it must feel to have the drum vibrate against his skin when he plays!

Magazines and new releases

2006-03-16T10:19:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was a terrific day for me. Not only did my new release from Torquere Press, a m/m romance titled 'A Bit of Rough', come out a few days early, but my sweet little f/m short story 'Reconnecting' was published in the New York based magazine BUST and I got the issue in the mail! That was so exciting to see my name in print in a National Magazine! So cool! Even my husband was impressed! They even included my website url at the end of the article, which was so very kind of them.

BUST magazine is a great, uninhibited magazine for the modern woman. It has lots of articles, features and fun stuff. Even the ads are cool. Look for at www.bust.com!

Caught in the Middle

2006-03-09T12:44:00.000-05:00

Well, it seems being a straight woman who writes m/m erotic romances definitely makes me the odd woman out. RT refuses to review my novels because they are 'homosexual fiction' and a gay bookstore just decline holding a booksigning for me because I'm a straight female. Damned on both sides of the coin!

Well, cool for ME! I'm unique and different and hard to define! Yes, it's a bit of a problem when trying to find a nitch to snuggle down into with my writing, but hey, if I can't be accepted, at least I'm getting a lot of attention! LOL!

Really, it's kind of sad that neither one refused based on the quality of my writing. They pinned a label on my work or on me and that was the end of it. Pretty poor response from two supposedly 'professional' businesses.

More walls to scale and hurdles to jump. Where did I hide my track shoes?

kids and writing

2006-02-22T19:56:00.000-05:00

Don't mix! At least in my house. School is on a short break and the wild ones are home for 9 days. I have a novel deadline approaching and it is waving bye-bye to me as I speak. Husband and kids come first for me, but is it just me or are the days they are off from school longer than other days of the year? Do I live in a special time wrinkle where writing makes hours turn to minutes and super active seven years olds make time vibrate in place? I need NASA to do a research study in my backyard and find out!

CAPA nominations

2006-02-14T21:09:00.000-05:00

Found out today I have been nominated in two categories for the CAPA from The Romance Studio. I'm entered in the Erotic contemporary novel grouping and the New Author grouping. Winners won't be announced until March 17th or so, but I'm thrilled to be on the lists right now! Way cool! God, I hope my next novel can live up to the rep of this last one!

Original Oil Painting by Lorraine Brevig

2006-02-08T14:42:00.000-05:00

I have been fortunate enough in my short time as an author to have a wonderful array of talented friends who have helped me in my efforts to be a better storyteller. One of the groups that make a huge impact on my stories are the artists that help bring my characters to life.

Deana Jamroz is a graphics designer that has been outstanding in lending her skills to making me any number of truly stunning and beautiful graphics from my business cards, bookmarks, cd covers and labels for my promo things, to creating the cover art for my first m/m novel, A BIT OF ROUGH. She is always there with a fast creation to fill in a hole in my site or design a wish cover for a future novel in a split second. She is a wizard with the computer.

Then there is Frauke from Crocodesigns that pulled together my awesome website in record time and makes sizzling banners for me. A truly gifted woman!

Another dear friend is Lorraine Brevig, an artist who uses charcoals and oils to define her amazing creations, some of which I'm honored to say she creates for me. Like this hot and stunning cover for my newest print release, OUT THERE IN THE NIGHT! It's an oil painting of my main character, a buff, brawny American Indian who turns werewolf by the light of the moon to become an ancient guardian of the earth. Lorraine captured my vision of the essense of the novel with a passion and fliud grace I could only dream about having on the cover. I'm very proud she is my cover artist for this novel!

Thanks to all of the talented ladies here and the ones I haven't mentioned yet, like my betas, proofreaders and the ones who just listen to me whine when a story is stumbling! You are all part of my successes!

Preditors and Editors Poll Results

2006-02-03T08:32:00.000-05:00

I admit it, I like a pat on the back once in awhile as much as the next gal, and today I woke up to find one in my mail. Last month I was entered in the Preditors and Editors Poll in two categories, author and romance novel. Today found out I placed in the top ten in both categories! Can you believe it? I was in a 3-way tied for 10th place for best author and in 4TH place with my m/m erotic romance A BIT OF ROUGH!

Yes, I know it's a popularity contest, but that IS the point! Readers voted and they voted for what they like, and I and my writing have the great honor of being one of the things they liked! I'm very thrilled and energized by it all! Makes me want to finish up this sci-fi novel ASAP and get to work on the sequel to A BIT OF ROUGH! Or maybe that hot Mexican Heat thriller. The romance in that one is wet and rough!

Fun stuff on my Website

2006-01-23T09:13:00.000-05:00

My marvelous, talented, hunk of a husband made me a new animated thingy to showcase my book covers, one on my home page and one on the bookshelf page. One slowly revolves like a merry-go-round and the other flips like book pages, showing off each cover at a nice slow rate . I adore them!

Letting the world know m/m romance readers exist

2006-01-20T04:49:00.000-05:00

Now that I've had a good night's sleep and a little distance from the events of yesterday, I've begun to see the refusal of RT Bookclub to review my novel as a potentially good thing. There is some positive results to the issue. This brought into focus the fact the RT isn't aware that there is a huge m/m, f/f readership out there and that if that readership wants a voice in the romance community, allowing them better, more informed access to quality same gender romance fiction, they need to let thier voices be heard. And not just now, but 6 months and a year form now. Politely and intelligently, so that what we have to say will be listened to and respected.
I'm going to write my own quiet, intelligent letter to them today!

gay romance Prejudice by Romantic Times Bookclub

2006-01-19T14:34:00.000-05:00

I’m running an ad in the May issue of RT BOOKclub promoting my m/m romance novel, A BIT OF ROUGH, for the RT convention in Daytona in May. Part of the packaging for the ad asks you to send in a copy of your novel for review by the RT staff.

Well guess what? Today I learned through my ad people that a staff member at RT mentioned that while they had received the copy of my book for review, it would not be reviewed because it was gay fiction. She reports that this is not written or printed anywhere. She said that there had been another gay romance submitted (also not reviewed) but that with their current review staff, they (RT) didn't feel well equipped to review this particular ‘brand of romance’.

‘Brand of romance’? Do they think gay men walk around with a mark on their foreheads like a scarlet letter? I can’t believe in this day and age that this kind of unwarranted and out dated prejudice in writing is allowed to exist. Isn’t the literary world supposed to the cutting edge of exploration and new elements? Didn’t anyone there read Pulitzer Prize winner Annie Proulx’s ‘Brokeback Mountain’? I’m not trying to compare my novel to her exquisite writings, but you get the idea.

We need to awaken their awareness of the m/m romance community around them.

Improving on the human male sex organs

2006-01-10T17:12:00.000-05:00

My world just twisted a bit. I'm writng a new scifi novel that involves an humaniod alien having hot, monkey sex with a human, (male on male of course). This opened a whole new door for designing sex scenes. Rather than settle for the ususal physical necessities for this act, I decided to use all the freedom writing a scifi story gives an author and make some interesting changes in the alien's basic anatomy.

Oh, he still has a penis and a scotum, of sorts, but they look and function a little differently than human males. I decided to give my human male a few surprises (pleasant ones, once he gets over the shock) and let my alien male have the improved version of the male sex organs. Don't get me wrong, I love the ones men have now, but if you can create the fantasy, why not go for it?

Since my hero is somewhat reptilian in nature, I've made his penis snake-like and functional. Kind of like having a python attached at his groin, one that can become slender and long for those hard to reach places, or thick and filling for those nifty prostate massages. It squirms and wiggles, massaging and teasing as it strokes in and out. It can also wrap around things, like the alien's partner's shaft, and undulate while his hands are busy elsewhere. See I said I'd make it better and pleasantly so!

Since the alien, Talos, is a 26th century bounty hunter from a warrior race that shuns much clothing, this precious organ retracts into the alien's abdomen for protection if necessary. His scrotum-like pouch is actually a nest of 4-5 inch long tenacles that adhere to the body of his sexual partner to prevent dislodgement. They too can rub and stroke the flesh they are near. In the alien's species it is for holding and penetrating the unfertilized placental sac the female gives birth to in a birthing pool. Intercourse isn't neceassary for them to procreate. It's for pleasure. Same gender marriages are a given in many warrior cultures (look at Alexander the Great)and his is no different.

Oh, and his new human love? That's a 18th century Earth pirate he kidnapped. (18th century English seamen were well known for a love of the three b's -- 'beer, 'bacca, and bum'!) Bloody lovely arrangement that. At least for my story!

Fingerstick lancets as sex toys

2006-01-03T20:35:00.000-05:00

Sounds intriguing? How can you have fun with a fingerstick lancet in the bedroom? Well, most people can't really appreicate that little device when used in the same context as sex, but I have found a way. Not only is it useful, but necessary even.

Of course, you have to be a vampire to properly appreciate it.

In the DUG series, vampirism is a disease, not some mystcial curse. It is contract by a person who carries a very rare gene when they are bitten by a vampire. Only these very rare few humans can be turned into a creature of the night. (Or a creature of delight in my stories!) And vampires crave the taste of blood during the sex act. It isn't necessary to complete the tango, but it adds an element of pleasure that can't be acheived any other way.

When the vampire Simon Molinar takes a human, Dr. Joe McKay, as his lover, he has to be careful. He can't bite his lover during their lovemaking because the doctor is one of those rare individual that carries the elusive vampire-making gene! Bummer for them!

Over time, Joe knows their lovemaking is missing something and wants to give that ultimate pleasure to Simon. So, being the resourceful medical professional that he is, Joe comes up with a device (usually used to help in testing a diabetic person's blood sugar) to prick his finger just before climax. He lets the blood pool in his hand and tempts Simon to lap the blood from his cupped palm. ( Anyone who has used a fingerstick lancet knows that the fingers are very vascular, and some bleed and bleed just from that one little prick.)

And wah-la! Fingerstick lancets as sex aids! Who would have thought it?

Proofreading vs distracted by sex

2005-12-23T09:02:00.000-05:00

I was just thinking about a trend I 'm beginning to notice in my work when it comes back from the team of talented, skilled and very generous proofreaders I have. While most of my writing needs mountains of corrections and polish, I notice only the sex scenes come back correction -lean, not free but lean.

My only conclusion is either I'm really focused and in perfect-wirter mode (what do you think the chances of that are?) or the reader is so into the sex, they don't notice most of the flaws.

LOL! Either way, I guess I must be doing something right! We all win!

How does a woman write about anal intercourse?

2005-12-20T14:09:00.000-05:00

I just got this question from a reader and all I have to say is 'duh?' Rude, I know, but come on!

I know about the subject first hand, just like I know what pleases a man during oral sex, intercourse and foreplay. I was actally considered attractive and fun in my single years. I dated, I have lovers. I experimented. (Guess which scene from the "Rough" novel I actually did!)

Now, I'm a happily married woman, mated to a sexy, good-looking hunk of a man for a couple of decades. Which is also why I don't write heterosexual romances. If I want a steamy romp with a gorgeous man, I can just take my husband to bed, I don't need to write about it in fantasies. But when I want some arousing fantasies of my own--that's when I break out the old keyboard and whip up a couple of hotties to play with.

Which is what I'm going to do right now!

Letting people know you write m/m erotic romance can be a challenge

2005-12-19T01:11:00.000-05:00

Last weekend while at work I was discussing having just finished the second draft of my newest romance, OUT THERE IN THE NIGHT. It's a 58,000 plus word novel with a little twist, being published by Loose Id. The part that makes it different to me is that I use the Native American myth about werewolves, or skinwalkers, as they call them, as the basis for my hero being a werewolf. He is a kind, masterfully powerful, half native-half German trapper from the early 1900's. His heritage is based on actual Alaskan history and people who lived there. Being a werewolf is a blessing to the natives, and they are guardians of the earth by night, not mindless, vicious beasts that terrorize and mutilate without reason or regard to human life. They are the good guys.

Anyway, I was talking about it at work and one of the male staff was listening. Suddenly he picked up the cover art I had made for some new cd giveaways I'm putting together for readers that will have excerpts of all my books on them. The cover has a lusiously naked man from the hips up, lying on his chest, smiling at the camera, my name scrolling over the dip and arch of his back and hips, and the words MAN LOVE in big print under a pair of tasty red lips. The concept I write m/m romance is pretty plain from the art work.

He freaked.

He's been listening to me chat about my writing for over a year and never once grabbed onto the idea that some of it, that part that sells, was m/m erotic romance. He was stunned, he blushed , he laughed nervously, he stuttered. He mentioned it ALL night long! I'll probably never get any peace from this day on from him.

You just never know how people will react. I thought he was cute, defensive and silly. I'm going to write him into a book just to see him blush crimson again.

Man love sex scenes-where DO they come from?

2005-12-16T09:26:00.000-05:00

Well I just finished the second re-write on my m/m werewolf/Native American/ myth/ romance novel. Did I cover enough genres for you there? I'm nothing if not writing to the beat of a different drummer!

Anyway, I was re-reading one of the many the nice, juicy, steamy hot love scenes and wondering where so many of them cropped up from. I mean, I outlined the story. I worked out the details of where each passionate moment would drive the story along and threw in two more for the sake of gratitutious sex, but then, where did the other sex scenes come from?

What made me let these gorgeous men turn my little legend exploration into a non-stop lovefest?

I remember trying to write one serious scene where the two main lovers confront each other over the major issues in the story, and having to rewrite it and rewrite it, because the guys kept ending up with their pants down. That is NOT the way to iron out relationship problems. But what about the others?

I even have two minor characters getting it on and they were NOT supposed to be a couple in any way, shape, or form in the original outline. Hell, one didn't even have a name at first. Now he's getting equal time in the bedroom, (on the floor really) as much as the main hero is. I ask you, is that anyway to write a romance story?

I guess if your writing m/m erotic romances, it is. And since I am writing erotic romances a lot of the time, I guess maybe I should be glad the guys take control of the story and write it they way they want it to play. But I have to step in once in a while, or it would just be steamy sex scene after steamy sex scene with no story.

Hmmmm. Why am I complaining again? Maybe I should stay out of it a little more often in the next book.

Inspiration for my new Vampire story

2005-12-11T21:12:00.000-05:00

Sometimes inspiration comes from unexpected places. Hearing me say something about starting a new Demon Under Glass short story, a vampire m/m horror romance series I contirbute to my fifteen year old decided to write something to help get me in the mood (I call them poems, he calls them lyrics). Anyway they are very inspiring!

But I still hate when I start to write a passionate m/m love scene and I find him reading over my shoulder, wanting to know when the girl is going to show up. I tell him never and he shakes his head and walks away, mumbling something about grown women being weird and kinky! I just don't know where he gets the attitude from!

VAMPIRE
By Rob B.

Death
Isn’t my final frontier
I can’t fear
This sin that cannot be repaired
Forgotten by what you’ve always followed
Flawed in every way
This day is your last
It’s been a thousand years
Since you’ve passed
The forgotten soul
At its last
Past is behind us
Future is always so far away
Look back and remember you yesterday
In dismay of all you’ve killed today
Sucked them dry
Of their pride
Stolen the nectar of their life
To fulfill your unlife
In the deadliest way
Shrivel up and die
I can’t cry
My tears are my brother’s blood
I can’t deny
But what I need, I have to supply
I can’t see my own face
Because I’m not there
I’m an illusion that even I have to bear
I’m the bloodiest killer known to man
I am the vampire
Of this land
Who dares to cross me
Will be the lamb
And I am the Shepherd to slaughter
Them.

_

writing romance

2005-12-10T21:34:00.000-05:00

I thought I'd comment a little on writing romances. These thoughts apply to me, and probably only me, as an author of gay, slash, m/m (pick one you like) romances.

I like happy endings. I like faithful partners. I like to explore the everyday pressure and events that impact our day-to-day lifes and cause us, whatever our sexual orientation, all unnecessary stress in our relationships. I'm old fashioned, but a bit on the wild side.

I don't think an author needs a huge traumatic moment to happen in a character's life to have something to write about and to tell a good story. Some of the most interesting things happen in peoples' lives as a result of tiny moments. A late running meeting makes you miss your usual bus and you suddenly end up sitting on a strange bus next to a dreamy guy who asks you out and it's the start of a long term relationship. You decide to visit a bar you wouldn't usually go into alone. You get mistaken for someone else and end up in a police line up. You go free, but end up dating the detective who questioned you. All real stories that happened to people I know. LOL! Okay, so the police thing was a little traumatic! But he didn't get booked! I like to set-up one or two of those moments in a story and let the drama unfold.

As a nurse for *@## years, I'm very comfortable with all types of people. I know the human body very well. I've put tubes and pieces of equipment into the private pieces parts of men I didn't even know the names of. Some I never learned. All in the line of duty, mind you. No sacrifice is too great to save a life! You pick an orifice in the human body and I've been there!

Personally, I prefer men's bodies to women's, but that goes with being hopelessly heterosexual. I love men. I know the male body extremely well, from the medical, physical, emotional, intimate and romantic angles. Nothing is more beautiful to me than a gorgeous, kind man.

TWO gorgeous, kind men are definitely twice the thrill!

Snowy days

2005-12-09T09:06:00.000-05:00

Okay, it's a lovely day in Western New York. The sky is nowhere to be seen. That's because the snow is falling so hard and so fast you can't see anything more than 6 feet in front of you. Needless to say, as soon as I put the last kid on the bus, I immediately ran into the house to hibernate. I had planned on going to work and taking a CPR class, followed up by some Christmas shopping, a lab draw, lunch out and some grocery shopping.

I think I'll wrap up in a quilt and sip hot cappuccino instead.

Maybe I'll write a bit, but this was to be my week off in between novels to decompress and let the words settle out of my brain for a few days. Unfortunately, the words won't stop hopping around in my head long enough for my brain to relax. There really is no rest for the wicked! I guess I'll go write some on my vampire-in-progress story and watch my front yard disappear in the swirling haze of white bliss blanketing my tiny corner of the world.

News from the wickedly perverse mind of an erotic writer

2005-12-08T22:56:00.000-05:00

This is my first blog that I have set up on my own, so please forgive the errors and whatnot. I never kept a diary as a child and it's hard to start one now. If I'm going to write these days, I want to put time into my stories, but it's the accepted and trendy thing to do as an author and web -savvy person. So here I am. I'll drop by and leave little notes about my writing, my husband, my kids, my pet peeves and my favorite things. You'll all be thrilled to death by my musings, trust me. LOL!

Well, maybe I'll just talk about writing and all the inspiration I get for writing those 40 page love scenes. I'll give it a go! I'll try anything once, twice if I like it!

Laura