Robin Schone's Blog - Posts Tagged "romance"
"A Lady's Pleasure" is second, not third!
Because Captivated (September 1999) was published after The Lady's Tutor (August 1999), no doubt you assumed my novella in the anthology was my third work: It was not. I finished "A Lady's Pleasure" before I wrote TLT. In fact. . . . It was I who came up with the brain-child of Captivated. After winning my ordeal with fibroid tumors and HMOs (check here for the full story: http://www.robinschone.com/page/women...) I wanted to create a book that would celebrate women's sexuality. What better way, I thought, than to bring together the hottest names in the romance industry?
Okay. I had the plan, and I had the names of the authors I wanted. Two weeks after my myomectomy (an operation that removes fibroids rather than the uterus), I called Thea Devine: She agreed to contribute to the anthology! Two and one-half weeks after my myomectomy I felt so good - and so like my normal self, as Don (my husband) put it - that I drove to a local RWA chapter meeting in which Susan Johnson was speaking.
Was I nervous that night! Here I was, a little nobody with only one book under my belt, and I was daring to approach a New York Times Bestselling author! One, I might add, of whose books I was a fan. After much fidgeting and stomach-churning adrenaline, I got the chance to speak to Susan at a dinner after the meeting. She didn't laugh! OR turn up her nose. In fact, she said she had been approached by many authors - all of whose ideas for an anthology had fallen to the wayside - but if I succeeded, she would be more than happy to contribute. Bingo! Two down, one more to go. I am very happy to say that Bertrice Small also consented to be a part of Captivated.
But getting together the authors was just the beginning. . . . I still had to write my first novella!
After the initial excitement of having a publisher accept the anthology, I thought: Oh! A novella! Everyone says they're so easy, I should be able to write it in 2-3 weeks. Well, I did, and proudly presented it to Don, who in the past had claimed the title of being my worst critic and best fan. Well, my 'worst critic and best fan' yawned and said it was well-written. Somewhat offended, I asked: "But don't you like it?" He replied that there really wasn't that much to like. It's a cute story, he said, and that's all there is to it.
Well, indeed. I was determined to make him eat his words, so I sat down and redid the novella. I didn't so much rewrite it as weave more emotion and motivation into it. I believe agents/editors call it "fleshing out" a story. It was during this two-month process that I learned the difference between character-driven plots and action-driven plots. Well, my husband did indeed eat his words. Don . . . who is a big Stephen King fan . . . to this day says Robert is one of his all-time favorite heroes. High praise, indeed!
"A Lady's Pleasure," my second story, is a bridge between Awaken, My Love - which is lighter and more plot-driven - and the more intense, character-driven stories I now write. Without it, I would not have been able to write The Lady's Tutor. But that's another blog. . . .
Okay. I had the plan, and I had the names of the authors I wanted. Two weeks after my myomectomy (an operation that removes fibroids rather than the uterus), I called Thea Devine: She agreed to contribute to the anthology! Two and one-half weeks after my myomectomy I felt so good - and so like my normal self, as Don (my husband) put it - that I drove to a local RWA chapter meeting in which Susan Johnson was speaking.
Was I nervous that night! Here I was, a little nobody with only one book under my belt, and I was daring to approach a New York Times Bestselling author! One, I might add, of whose books I was a fan. After much fidgeting and stomach-churning adrenaline, I got the chance to speak to Susan at a dinner after the meeting. She didn't laugh! OR turn up her nose. In fact, she said she had been approached by many authors - all of whose ideas for an anthology had fallen to the wayside - but if I succeeded, she would be more than happy to contribute. Bingo! Two down, one more to go. I am very happy to say that Bertrice Small also consented to be a part of Captivated.
But getting together the authors was just the beginning. . . . I still had to write my first novella!
After the initial excitement of having a publisher accept the anthology, I thought: Oh! A novella! Everyone says they're so easy, I should be able to write it in 2-3 weeks. Well, I did, and proudly presented it to Don, who in the past had claimed the title of being my worst critic and best fan. Well, my 'worst critic and best fan' yawned and said it was well-written. Somewhat offended, I asked: "But don't you like it?" He replied that there really wasn't that much to like. It's a cute story, he said, and that's all there is to it.
Well, indeed. I was determined to make him eat his words, so I sat down and redid the novella. I didn't so much rewrite it as weave more emotion and motivation into it. I believe agents/editors call it "fleshing out" a story. It was during this two-month process that I learned the difference between character-driven plots and action-driven plots. Well, my husband did indeed eat his words. Don . . . who is a big Stephen King fan . . . to this day says Robert is one of his all-time favorite heroes. High praise, indeed!
"A Lady's Pleasure," my second story, is a bridge between Awaken, My Love - which is lighter and more plot-driven - and the more intense, character-driven stories I now write. Without it, I would not have been able to write The Lady's Tutor. But that's another blog. . . .
Gabriel's Woman: Career maker or career breaker? . . .
My editor loved The Lover. When she asked what my next book was going to be--and I responded Gabriel's story--she sighed, and said, "I was afraid of that."
In 2001, there were very few romances that could list their hero's occupation as "homosexual prostitute." But that was what Gabriel had been in The Lover. When writing Gabriel's Woman, I could not sweep his past under the rug and pretend it had never happened. Victoria wouldn't allow it. She had the same questions I and my readers shared. I had to deal with Gabriel's sexuality, and I . . . Gabriel . . . had to be brutally honest. But just how honest could he be, and remain a romantic fantasy?
When Victoria asked Gabriel if he got an erection when he was with men, my mind froze in horrified fascination--rather like watching a freight train bear down on one--even as my fingers typed on.
At which point, Victoria asks the question that could not be avoided, much as I had wanted to do just that.
This was the moment I had dreaded. Gabriel's answer would either be a career maker, or a career breaker. Yet there was no future for Victoria and Gabriel if he didn't answer. So answer he did.
I expected plenty of naysayers; what I didn't expect was how many readers would take Gabriel to heart. And how many women--and men--would write thanking me for Gabriel's unflinching honesty in dealing with the darker aspects of human sexuality.
I remember talking to Kathe Robin, reviewer extraordinaire for RT Book Reviews. She said Gabriel would never have found redemption without Hans Christian Andersen's tale of "The Angel." What do you think?
In 2001, there were very few romances that could list their hero's occupation as "homosexual prostitute." But that was what Gabriel had been in The Lover. When writing Gabriel's Woman, I could not sweep his past under the rug and pretend it had never happened. Victoria wouldn't allow it. She had the same questions I and my readers shared. I had to deal with Gabriel's sexuality, and I . . . Gabriel . . . had to be brutally honest. But just how honest could he be, and remain a romantic fantasy?
When Victoria asked Gabriel if he got an erection when he was with men, my mind froze in horrified fascination--rather like watching a freight train bear down on one--even as my fingers typed on.
"Sexual organs, mademoiselle, are apparatuses." Cynicism tarnished the silver of his eyes. "Like my bath or my shower. If you turn a valve cock"--he paused, allowing the double entendre to sink in, valve cock, cock--"it releases water. It does not care whether it is a man or a woman who turns it."
If that were the case, then why were his eyes so bleak?
"You are saying that there need not be emotion, or feeling, in order for a man to . . ." Victoria struggled to find the words, she, a governess who had never even heard the word cock until six months earlier, "to sexually perform--"
"That is correct."
"--And that the . . . that copulation is merely a reflexive response, a matter of cause and effect."
"Yes."
At which point, Victoria asks the question that could not be avoided, much as I had wanted to do just that.
"Are you saying, then, that you did not orgasm when you were with . . . a patron?"
This was the moment I had dreaded. Gabriel's answer would either be a career maker, or a career breaker. Yet there was no future for Victoria and Gabriel if he didn't answer. So answer he did.
I expected plenty of naysayers; what I didn't expect was how many readers would take Gabriel to heart. And how many women--and men--would write thanking me for Gabriel's unflinching honesty in dealing with the darker aspects of human sexuality.
I remember talking to Kathe Robin, reviewer extraordinaire for RT Book Reviews. She said Gabriel would never have found redemption without Hans Christian Andersen's tale of "The Angel." What do you think?
A Man and A Woman: Erotic Romance's 1st Eunuch
"A Man and A Woman" (Fascinated) is Connor/Muhamed's story, Ramiel's manservent in The Lady's Tutor.
Publisher's Weekly wrote that Connor is "probably the first 53-year-old eunuch to be a romantic hero." I don't know about that, but I do know that he fought me every step of the way. His life was private, and he wanted to keep it that way. Furthermore, he absolutely refused to let me romanticize any aspect of being a eunuch.
Instead, he revealed himself through one painful question after another, until finally I . . . and Megan . . . began to understood: Connor was a very, very lonely man who saw himself through the eyes of the men who would judge him, rather than through the eyes of the strong man circumstances had forced him to become.
Megan, however, refuses to judge Connor, just as she refuses to be judged by him.
More than one reader wrote expressing disbelief that a eunuch possessed sexual feelings, or in the case of Connor/Muhamed, that eunuchs who had been castrated while leaving the penis intact could sexually perform.
Both history and medicine are full of real-life men who have for one reason or another been castrated. Men with heartbreaking stories. Yet sometimes, those very same men whom we are supposed to pity . . . and who have been despised and ridiculed throughout history . . . provide the ultimate affirmation of our need to love and to be loved.
Eunuchs did and do have sexual feelings (many modern men must undergo castration due to cancer). Juvenal, a Roman satirist, wrote that Roman women enjoyed men who had been castrated after they reached maturity, because such eunuchs could still sexually perform but without causing impregnation. One particular account of a man who had been competely "shaved" (both testicles and penis cut off) profoundly touched me. Chief eunuch in charge of a harem, he himself kept a concubine, and was not only able to sexually satisfy his beloved, but by the intimate messaging of his prostate gland, was able to obtain sexual release, also.
I remember when typing the final chapter to "A Man and A Woman," a familiar thunk sounded overhead. Oops! I had stayed up all night writing . . . again. The familiar "thunk" was my husband's feet hitting the floor as he got out of bed and walked across the living room to turn on the radio, an early morning ritual. Almost immediately one of the most beautiful and haunting songs I had ever heard drifted down the stairs. It perfectly captured the pain Connor experienced and the beauty he found in Megan. I wrote the last sentence to the fading strains of Sting's Desert Rose.
Click here to learn how to win a free copy of the anniversary edition of Fascinated.
Publisher's Weekly wrote that Connor is "probably the first 53-year-old eunuch to be a romantic hero." I don't know about that, but I do know that he fought me every step of the way. His life was private, and he wanted to keep it that way. Furthermore, he absolutely refused to let me romanticize any aspect of being a eunuch.
Instead, he revealed himself through one painful question after another, until finally I . . . and Megan . . . began to understood: Connor was a very, very lonely man who saw himself through the eyes of the men who would judge him, rather than through the eyes of the strong man circumstances had forced him to become.
Megan, however, refuses to judge Connor, just as she refuses to be judged by him.
"You think a woman is a whore because she has physical needs?" she flared, forgetting that he rightfully thought her a prostitute. Forgetting that she had come to him out of loneliness, not to debate women's morality. "You do not think that women are entitled to take comfort in a man's embrace?"
"I do not know." His grating honesty shattered her anger; his breath lapped at her breasts. "I do not know what either men or women are entitled to. All I know is what I want..."
More than one reader wrote expressing disbelief that a eunuch possessed sexual feelings, or in the case of Connor/Muhamed, that eunuchs who had been castrated while leaving the penis intact could sexually perform.
Both history and medicine are full of real-life men who have for one reason or another been castrated. Men with heartbreaking stories. Yet sometimes, those very same men whom we are supposed to pity . . . and who have been despised and ridiculed throughout history . . . provide the ultimate affirmation of our need to love and to be loved.
Eunuchs did and do have sexual feelings (many modern men must undergo castration due to cancer). Juvenal, a Roman satirist, wrote that Roman women enjoyed men who had been castrated after they reached maturity, because such eunuchs could still sexually perform but without causing impregnation. One particular account of a man who had been competely "shaved" (both testicles and penis cut off) profoundly touched me. Chief eunuch in charge of a harem, he himself kept a concubine, and was not only able to sexually satisfy his beloved, but by the intimate messaging of his prostate gland, was able to obtain sexual release, also.
I remember when typing the final chapter to "A Man and A Woman," a familiar thunk sounded overhead. Oops! I had stayed up all night writing . . . again. The familiar "thunk" was my husband's feet hitting the floor as he got out of bed and walked across the living room to turn on the radio, an early morning ritual. Almost immediately one of the most beautiful and haunting songs I had ever heard drifted down the stairs. It perfectly captured the pain Connor experienced and the beauty he found in Megan. I wrote the last sentence to the fading strains of Sting's Desert Rose.
Click here to learn how to win a free copy of the anniversary edition of Fascinated.
Thank you!...
Thank you, Goodreads, for including The Lady's Tutor and Scandalous Lovers in your list of Top Best Romance Novels of All Time. I am honored beyond words that my books have had such a positive impact.
Gabriel's Woman has been Kindle-ized!
Gabriel's Woman is LIVE! Right now it's available for Kindle users, but will soon be available for the Nook and other ebook readers . . . just as soon as I figure out how to convert it to the appropriate formats! Whew. Who knew epublishing was so complicated?
I couldn't get the new book cover to post here, but you can see it on my FB page. And of course, by clicking the above link to Amazon. I designed the book cover myself. So what do you think of the new cover to Gabriel's Woman?
I couldn't get the new book cover to post here, but you can see it on my FB page. And of course, by clicking the above link to Amazon. I designed the book cover myself. So what do you think of the new cover to Gabriel's Woman?
Gabriel's Woman is a Black Friday SPECIAL!
To console all of you who are missing out on the mad frenzy of Friday shopping - or to reward you for not going out and thereby giving me a better chance at the good deals LOL - I am offering a 40% discount on Gabriel's Woman this Black Friday. For ONE DAY ONLY, GW will be priced at $2.99. This special offer starts at midnight on Thursday, November 24, and ends at midnight on Friday, November 25. This offer is available only at amazon.com, amazon.uk, amazon.de and amazon.fr as GW is currently available only at amazon and its affiliates. Happy shopping!
Let your friends know about this special Black Friday offer! Grab the official banner by clicking onto this link and post it on your favorite blogs/message boards.
Let your friends know about this special Black Friday offer! Grab the official banner by clicking onto this link and post it on your favorite blogs/message boards.
Gabriel's Woman SlideShow
Link to Gabriel's Woman SlideShow
I hope you had a wonderful, wonderful Christmas! You probably think my chatter about a new website is just that...chatter. But I assure you, we are working on it. My webmaster has very kindly made the Gabriel's Woman slideshow available over the holidays. The links don't work on this version, but they will on the website when it goes live. I hope you enjoy this special slideshow on this very, very special holiday!
Link to Gabriel's Woman SlideShow
I hope you had a wonderful, wonderful Christmas! You probably think my chatter about a new website is just that...chatter. But I assure you, we are working on it. My webmaster has very kindly made the Gabriel's Woman slideshow available over the holidays. The links don't work on this version, but they will on the website when it goes live. I hope you enjoy this special slideshow on this very, very special holiday!
Link to Gabriel's Woman SlideShow
Pick Robin Schone's Next Book Cover!
We had so much fun creating the eBook cover for Gabriel's Woman. I am now creating a cover for GIGOLO, a contemporary romantic suspence, which will be published in eBook format within the next month barring any more catastrophes like Shingles, etc. Please help me out! Check out the book covers on my FB page and cast your vote!
I am so looking forward to sharing GIGOLO with you. I love, love, love Catz--but more about that in the future... Meanwhile, please do help me out with the cover!
As always, I deeply appreciate any comments or suggestions.
Always,
Robin Schone
I am so looking forward to sharing GIGOLO with you. I love, love, love Catz--but more about that in the future... Meanwhile, please do help me out with the cover!
As always, I deeply appreciate any comments or suggestions.
Always,
Robin Schone
5 Free eBooks A Day...155 Winners!
5 Free eBooks...31 Days...155 Winners!
155 readers will win free copies of Gabriel's Woman in my HOT August Contest at http://writerspace.com/contests/robin...
To celebrate the momentous opening of my new website at www.robinschone.com (trust me, it took a year to complete, it IS a momentous occasion to me and my webmaster!) and in appreciation for your wonderful reception of my Indie debut last November, I will be giving away 155 copies of GABRIEL’S WOMAN (eBook only). That’s 5 winners a day, every day, for 31 HOT August days! All you need do to enter the contest is register here http://writerspace.com/contests/robin.... Every day I will post 5 lucky winners on my Facebook Page in addition to Tweeting them on Twitter. In order to claim your prize, you must post on either Facebook or Twitter when you see your name.
If you like my HOT August contest and would like to see me offer similar contests in the future, please take a moment to “Like” me on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Robin-S... or “Follow” me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/RobinSchone.
I'm also sending out a newsletter tomorrow...my first in over three years!...so if you haven't yet signed up, please do so at: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/... (scroll down to the bottom where it says "Newsletter").
Bonne Chance!
Robin
155 readers will win free copies of Gabriel's Woman in my HOT August Contest at http://writerspace.com/contests/robin...
To celebrate the momentous opening of my new website at www.robinschone.com (trust me, it took a year to complete, it IS a momentous occasion to me and my webmaster!) and in appreciation for your wonderful reception of my Indie debut last November, I will be giving away 155 copies of GABRIEL’S WOMAN (eBook only). That’s 5 winners a day, every day, for 31 HOT August days! All you need do to enter the contest is register here http://writerspace.com/contests/robin.... Every day I will post 5 lucky winners on my Facebook Page in addition to Tweeting them on Twitter. In order to claim your prize, you must post on either Facebook or Twitter when you see your name.
If you like my HOT August contest and would like to see me offer similar contests in the future, please take a moment to “Like” me on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Robin-S... or “Follow” me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/RobinSchone.
I'm also sending out a newsletter tomorrow...my first in over three years!...so if you haven't yet signed up, please do so at: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/... (scroll down to the bottom where it says "Newsletter").
Bonne Chance!
Robin
A Lady's Pleasure is COMING!
Yay! A Lady's Pleasure is coming in eBOOK! I have a date: September. I have a book cover. Check it out on my FB page and let me know what you think: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbi...
I am so excited. I don't know if I can wait until September!
Robin
I am so excited. I don't know if I can wait until September!
Robin
