Who on earth can top the authors over at the The Lipstick Chronicles today? Not me!
I am speaking, of course, of that act one does for another in which most of the sexual gratification goes to one partner. Oh, sure, you can argue there's some satisfaction for the provider. But let's be honest. One half gets all the treats. That's why they call it a job.
Gosh, what to talk about after that, huh? 🙂 Hmm, erotica maybe? Do you like it? Not like it? Buy it only online? Think it's porn?
I have a theory about romantica/erotica written by women that I'm saving for the PhD, should I ever be crazy enough to pursue one. Basically, it involves women reclaiming for themselves, and in their own language, what has traditionally been a male-dominated market. While I have no problem with its existence, I'm not much of a consumer of the harder forms of it. Basically, I just get tired of the sexual mechanics. And I know there are some mighty fine writers of erotica out there who are capable of making the story (and do) so much more meaningful and complicated than what goes where. I just haven't had the patience or time to go looking.
But maybe I don't even really know the gradations of erotica. For instance, I like Brava and Blaze (are they erotica? Romantica? Steamy romances?). Loved Alison Kent's Deep Breath. I've heard of Emma Holly but never read her. I get the feeling her work is much more raw than Brava and Blaze.
One of the things I don't like about the harder (rawer? sexier?) forms of erotica is the expansion of the sexual relationship beyond the two main characters (I'm not talking subplots, but group sex). For me, romance is between two characters. (I prefer to read about a man and a woman, but there's certainly a market for same-gender characters.) I don't want to see the hero and heroine having group sex in order to bond more with each other. For me, that's not romantic. And I do mean for me, because if you think romance can encompass that, then fine. I'm a big believer in the 1st Amendment. 🙂
[PS Rather than move furniture around, I redid my webpage. Yep, for the 4th time. I like it. For the next three months anyway…..] 🙂
I have to admit that I have read Blaze, but I am bored with it now. I find that Laurell Hamilton’s book have more sex than some of the romance/erotica books. LOL
Back to topic… I find that unless the sex flows with the plot, I just skip those parts. A lot of time gratuitious (sp) sex does nothing for me. Gosh dang… I find that even non-genre literature has too much sex or is too graphic.
Excellent questions, Lynn. I see a big difference between erotica and porn, with the first being more women-centric. I do like erotica, though I tend to prefer short stories in the genre. I’ve found that full erotica novels tend to go into contortions to try to sustain a plot.
On the romantica side, I love the new stuff Linda Howard is doing. It really works in terms of relationships. I haven’t read Blaze or Brava.
I’ m probably the only person left who hasn’t read Laurel K. Hamilton. 🙂 I never skip the sex scenes, though I might skim them from time to time. I think well-written sex is fabulous. It’s those “His pole disappeared in her hot wet heat” sentences that crack me up. I saw something similar recently, no kidding.
I like the short stories too, Terry. I even like the novellas, like Red Sage. Blaze and Brava are just right for me. Plenty of sizzle and plot. Alison Kent’s books are action packed (and not just sexually). There’s always something going on in addition to the heat. I like that.
I’m not adverse to trying other stuff, not at all, but I don’t know where to begin. While there is some really good stuff out there, there’s also some really bad (and that’s true of anything, I think).
I’ll have to try the new Linda Howard.
Lynn,
You need to read at least one of Laurel K. Hamilton’s book. Although I really like her Anita Blake series, her Merry series are really good too. They sizzle and are really sexy. The girls are not nincompoops (sp). I know they deal with the paranormal, but since I started reading her books, I am more discriminating about who I read… she has kind of spoiled me for some of the mid-range novelists. :-0
I’m a total LKH fan, too. I second Cynthia’s recommendation to try her.
Cool website by the way 🙂
I’ve been selling my short erotic fiction for years. The group sex scenes really don’t work unless you’re writing porn fiction.
I guess I’ll have to try LKH! Thanks for the compliments on the website, Nalini. 🙂
Hi, Faith! Thanks for chiming in on this topic. I like short erotic fiction. I think it works really well. I haven’t actually tried a novel-length erotica. I don’t think of Blaze and Brava as erotica, really.