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50 Shades of Influence

Pauline Allan — Mon, 21 May 2012 09:00:22 GMT

Apparently, I am a hermit when it comes to my "writer mode" status. I had a friend call me a couple of months ago and ask if I'd read this book called 50 Shades of Grey. I shrugged and kept on typing while holding the phone between my ear and shoulder. "Um, no, can't say I have. Why?" I asked. She was floored. She promptly asked me if I'd been watching the news at all. I reminded her I was storming through my work in progress and that I hadn't had much time to read. Heck, the new JR Ward is still untouched on my Nook! I know...I can hear you gasping right now. So my friend scolded me for not hopping on the 50 Shades band wagon and getting all googly-eyed about this Christian Grey character. I have to admit, I'm still in my hermit state and I STILL haven't read the 50 Shades trilogy. BUT...I have been reading some of the scuffle over this little tale about BDSM. Now, let me tell you what has shocked me. I've had a gaggle of women say to me how the series is "so taboo" and "oh my gosh, can you believe..." I asked my gal pals and any other person who approaches me about this series, "Where have you been?" They look at me with a bewildered expression. I really want to know where these people have been hiding. Just because a book, such as 50 Shades, is soaking up the media blitz doesn't mean it's the first risque book to hit the bestseller shelf. I had one woman ask me what was she supposed to do now? She figured she'd have to reread the series because she just felt lost now that she completed book three. I offered her an alternative. I said, "How about you ditch that vanilla icecream and scoop up some chocolate swirl or rocky road?" I gave her a list of titles including Cara Bristol, J.A. Rock, Pauline Reage, A.N. Roquelaure (aka Anne Rice), and Elizabeth McNeill. While the montrous popularity of the series has been a whirlwind media sensation, my hope is that these books will shed some light on the well-written books that laid the groundwork for 50 Shades. There are so many creative stories on the market today that every man and woman can read their kink and find a happily ever after. I know that books like The Story of O, The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty, Beauty's Punishment, Beauty's Release, and Nine and a Half Weeks: A Memoir of a Love Affair were vital influences on my writing and creative process. Those books were a great inspiration to me and marked a turning point in my life when I read them. Maybe 50 Shades will be that inspirational spark that reaches out to readers and turns them onto the BDSM genre of Erotic Romance. I certainly hope the mass excitement for this genre is contagious and the readers go hunting for the books that are building the foundation for this category of Erotic Romance. Will I read the 50Shades of Grey series? Not right now. I may in the future, but my ereader is too stuffed with other great BDSM authors at the moment. It seems that society is always looking for that next big thing. The Harry Potter craze faded into the Twilight craze that now has bled into the 50 Shades craze. What will the next big craze be? Maybe Sci-Fi romance will hit the big time or perhaps a little Highlander knocking-boots mania will turn someone on in the literary world and be the next book-to-blockbuster. Any way we want to play the cards, the 50 Shades trilogy, whether good or bad, has shown the spotlight on a style of erotica that is usually reserved for the shadows. I for one am excited and looking forward to seeing where this media train takes the genre and Erotic Romance in general. These sexy books have been on the shelves for many years, but maybe now they can gain the recognition they so truly deserve.

Romantic Mother's Day!

Pauline Allan — Sun, 13 May 2012 14:53:48 GMT

I hope all my fellow mothers are having a wonderful Mother's Day! Every woman needs a little romance in her life so stop by The Romance Reviews to enter to win some great prizes, Discover some amazing authors, and journey into the realm of passionate romance. The question I submitted asks what is the name of Abigail's custom online pornography company? It's a multiple choice question on the site. Enter your answer and you can earn points to win some cool prizes. Leave a comment on my blog to enter to win a $10 Amazon gift card. I will draw the name on the 15th! Hope everyone has a great Mother's day and happy hopping!!

Get To Hoppin'!

Pauline Allan — Sat, 12 May 2012 08:21:49 GMT

So, how's it hoppin'? I hope everyone is enjoying The Romance Reviews Erotic Romance Madness Hop. Check out www.theromancereviews.com to find out what question I asked to enter to win a $10 Amazon gift card. The hop is taking place until the 14th. Happy hopping!!

Please Help Me Welcome Rosanna Leo!

Pauline Allan — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 11:35:21 GMT

Welcome Rosanna! I'm so excited to have you here today. Tell us all about yourself and your debut novel from Liquid Silver Publishing!

Thanks for having me, Pauline! What a pleasure! For the Love of a God (available April 23 through www.liquidsilverbooks.com) is my debut novel. It is set in my hometown of Toronto, Canada, in the fictional Toronto Museum. My heroine Maia Douglas is a conservator of Greek statuary, who has always been obsessed with the mythical Greek god of love, Eryx. In the museum where she works, she quietly tends to his lifelike statue, while her nighttime dreams are filled with images of the gorgeous god making love to her.

One day, the museum announces the arrival of a new director. When Maia sees this director, she is flabbergasted. He looks just like the statue of Eryx, tall and blond and sculpted with knowing green eyes. Just like the image in her dreams. As she fights the attraction she has to her meddlesome new boss, she begins to suspect that there is more to the director than meets the eye. And as an invisible enemy begins to make threats against her, Maia is forced to work with her delicious new boss, exposing her to a world she never dreamed existed.

What inspired you to write this particular book?

In Toronto, at the Royal Ontario Museum, there is a statue of the god Dionysus. A beautiful statue of the god as a young man, complete with manly torso and falling curls. I’ve been visiting this museum since I was a child, and was always a little in love with the statue. I once wondered what it might be like if the statue came to life, and For the Love of a God was born. I simply changed my god to Eryx, whom I designated as the fictional god of love.

How much of yourself do you incorporate into your writing?

A lot, especially with regard to my heroines. They are all a little bit of me, even the ones who look nothing like me. I always felt like the awkward, shy girl growing up, the one who never attracted the boys I liked. As a result, I like my heroines to be awkward too, in some way. And because I live vicariously through them, I love for them to get the hot, preferably immortal, guy!

Describe your ideal hero.

I’m a brunette who’s always been attracted to her total opposite. So when I envision my ideal hero, he’s usually a tall, blond drink of water. He doesn’t have to have abs of steel, but strong is a must. A fine posterior is essential! He should have a voice that sends shivers down my spine, arms that are capable of throwing me over his shoulder, and eyes that penetrate. Not only is he completely attracted to me on a level he’s never experienced before, he should be totally obsessed with my safety and welfare. I am his number one priority, even if I aggravate him sometimes. (Hang on- I have to go help my hubby recover from his laughing fit…)

What does your writing space look like?

A messy Ikea desk in our spare bedroom. Littered with my notebooks, my thesaurus, and a handy book entitled “What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew” by Daniel Pool. It’s a bit of a mess, but it’s my haven.

What is a typical day like for you when your muse comes to visit?

To be honest, I don’t wait for the muse to come, because she can be fickle sometimes. I know I have certain days during the week when I am able to write. On those days, I sit and write and make my muse come. Even if I’m stuck, I go back and revise, and that helps the muse appear.

What's the best advice you've ever received regarding writing and publishing?

To do your homework. There is no sense pestering a publisher with your submission if it isn’t what they’ve asked for. When I read submission guidelines, I follow them to the letter. It can be a lot of work, especially when each publisher wants something a little different, but it pays off in the end.

And let your personality show! Develop your voice, and your writing will just flow.

What are your hobbies and interests?

For a few years I was a classical singer, so I still love music. I love BBC TV programs- I will watch almost anything British! And travelling! My husband and I hope to retire one day to England…you know, where the kids won’t find us.

What's your happiest moment in your writing career (minus "the call" for publication)?

This interview! J

“The call” from Liquid Silver did knock my socks off. But I was pretty emotional when I finished For the Love of a God and just knew it was ready to go out.

What are you reading right now? “Instant Gratification” by Jill Shalvis. I love Stone, the sporty, muscled hero. And I love the cover art. He has gorgeous arms! (*sigh*)

What WIP are you currently working on? A follow up to For the Love of a God, only with the god of wine Dionysus as my hero. In my first novel, Dionysus was my hero Eryx’s sexed-up cousin. He was the original party boy with a woman in every port, so to speak. I thought it might be fun to confront Dionysus with a woman who annoys the heck out of him at first, but who then intrigues him to a frustrating degree. After meeting my workaholic, baker heroine, he’s about to feel very ungodly for the first time ever.

Okay, let's get some favorites from you.

Favorite book: “Outlander” by Diana Gabaldon

Favorite movie: “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy (Viggo Mortensen…say no more.)

Favorite song: “Laila” by Derek and the Dominos. Not the unplugged, watered-down version done by Eric Clapton.

Favorite hero: A tie between Diana Gabaldon’s Jamie Fraser (tall, red-headed Scotsmen are just fine by me) AND the first generation of Maya Banks’ Colter Brothers (that would be the very sexy Ethan, Adam and Ryan- hubba hubba!)

Favorite food: My mother’s homemade gnocchi…or Nutella!

Now, either/or's.

Coke or Pepsi: Coke

Summer or Fall: Fall

Beach or Snow: Beach

Wolf or Vamp: Vamp!!

Day or Night: Day

Fill in the blanks.

My halo is _rather dark and lopsided______.

I'd love to _be a ballroom dancer________, but _can’t dance________.

Romance is _essential_________.

I burped______, and then he kissed me.

_Flatulence_______makes me laugh.

Rosanna Leo’s contact info:

www.rosannaleo.blogspot.com

email: rleoauthor@gmail.com

www.facebook.com/rleoauthor

www.twitter.com/LeoRosanna

For the Love of a God- available April 23 through www.liquidsilverbooks.com

Blurb of For the Love of a God:

Conservator Maia Douglas is an expert on ancient Greece and its mythology. She would never tell anyone at the museum where she works, but she's always had a secret crush on the mythical Eryx, Greek god of love. There is nothing she loves more than to tend to her favorite statue of him, and her nighttime dreams are filled with luscious images of Eryx making love to her.

One day, the peace at Maia's beloved museum is shattered when a new director arrives. A man who looks exactly like her image of Eryx. As Maia watches, he manages to upset her ordered museum world, at the same time he inflames her with unwanted desire.

Maia does not know that her new boss is actually the god Eryx, disguised as a mortal so he may work in antiquities. Although he is the god of love, he has forsaken his sexual nature because of a curse that has killed any woman he's dared to love. Though he fights it, Eryx is drawn to Maia with a force he's never experienced in a thousand years. But can he convince her of his true identity? And can he protect her from a vengeful goddess who seeks her destruction?

Excerpt from For the Love of a God:

Toronto, Present Day

Maia Douglas woke with a start. She looked around, disoriented. Then she remembered. She’d only put her head down on her desk for a minute. Her brown eyes bleary, she peered toward the clock on her office wall. Seven o’clock. “Dammit. Naps at work. Bad idea.”

It may have been after hours and the last tourist may have already been long gone, but she knew she was playing a dangerous game. One of these nights, she’d sleep right through and wouldn’t get her work done.

It was her fault for insisting on working late. She could work during the day like a normal person, but she loved the tranquility of the museum at night. Besides, she hadn’t been sleeping well lately anyway. Might as well work through the night.

She rubbed her eyes and gathered her wits. She took a sip of her cold coffee and stared at the wet spot on her blotter where she’d dribbled a little. “Ugh. Real dainty, Douglas.”

She pushed away from her desk. As foggy as she was, she knew it was the perfect time to do her preliminary inspection. She hated doing her work when people were milling about anyway. She gathered up her collapsible stool, a notebook, and her Holly Hobby satchel, the one containing her pencils and various tools of the trade. Thus armed, she stumbled out of her office.

Maia looked around the conservation office. All the other conservators were already gone for the day. No surprise there. She was the only one who kept such ungodly hours.

Taking the stairs up to the fifth floor, she made her way to the new Gallery of Greece. This part of the museum wasn’t open to the public yet, and the entrance was still shrouded by opaque drop cloths. She knew it wouldn’t open officially until it passed muster with the new director.

His Lordship was due any minute, and everyone at the Toronto Museum was nervous. There was a reason for it. Eric Lord’s reputation preceded him. He was from a family of museum experts, although she’d never met him in her travels. She’d read articles by his grandfather--—another Eric Lord--—when she was a student, and had been impressed with his keen insight into the ways of ancient Greece. But the current Eric Lord was known the world over for his slash-and-burn style of museum administration. She’d heard he was a downsizer, a ruthless one. Why, last year he’d eliminated a whole department at one museum in New York for their so-called inefficiencies.

Maia sniffed. “Well, Eric Lord’s not the only museum royalty around here. And no one knows this place like I do.”

Maia’s father, Dr. Jim Douglas, was the famed archaeologist whose work formed the basis of the Toronto Museum’s Greek collection. Maia had basically grown up within its walls. So if Eric Lord was planning a cull in Toronto, he’d be a fool to get rid of her.

Pushing aside the cloths at the entrance, she entered the Gallery of Greece. One of the cleaners was just finishing up in the gallery. She made sure to sashay around the trail from his wet mop. “Hey, Wally. How’s business?”

The older man looked up. “Miss Douglas, what are you still doing here? It’s Saturday night! How come a pretty girl like you doesn’t have a date?”

“Tonight, I have a date with Poseidon’s testicles.”

Wally pulled a face.

“They’re about to fall off,” she explained. “The statue, I mean. Poor guy has some nasty cracks on him. I’ve got to fix him up for the big opening.”

Wally just waved her away with a smile. “I’ll leave the fun stuff to you conservators. I’ll stick to my mopping.”

Maia made her way through the empty gallery, wondering why every word out of her mouth always seemed so awkward. But as she pulled out her collapsible stool and placed it in front of Poseidon and his cracked gonads, she didn’t worry. Staff at the museum had long ago ceased their speculation about Maia’s quirks. After all, she was Jim Douglas’s daughter. She was excellent at her job, which rendered her many quirks negligible.

She knew the collection of Greek antiquities so intimately they could have been siblings to her. Quiet, somber siblings. Certainly there was nothing she valued more. She was an expert conservator, specializing in marble sculpture. After she’d completed her studies, the Toronto Museum administrators had been falling over themselves to offer Maia the job. Sure, there had been enticing job offers from as far away as the Hermitage and the British Museum. But she knew she’d never leave her beloved museum. It was her second home.

It was her life.

Before she began her inspection of Poseidon, she walked over to one of the other sculptures. It was the statue of Eryx, the Greek god of love. She stood before him and sighed, letting her appreciative eyes rake over his nude body. Absorbing the warmth he created in her. Feeding off his beauty.

This was her ritual and had been ever since she was a little girl. Ever since her father discovered the perfect statue in a long-hidden cove in Greece.

She remembered her dad’s excitement after the find. He’d led her through the museum after hours. She could still hear the sound of her Mary Janes clicking on the marble floors. The museum had been shrouded in darkness, but Maia didn’t mind. Even at five years old, she already knew every square inch of the place.

“Come, sweet pea,” Dr. Douglas had said as he walked with her. “I have something new to show you.”

Green lollipop in mouth, she’d scrambled after him. She’d always loved these night-time walks. As a curator, her dad often brought her to the museum at night when the tourists had all gone home. He showed her all the ancient gold jewelry and terracotta pieces and told her wonderful stories full of myth and magic. To the little girl, being with her father was the greatest adventure on earth.

Especially since mother had left them.

“Is it a big statue, Daddy?”

“Life-sized. And in amazing condition. It’s as if he was just waiting in the cave, hoping to be found.” He motioned toward the entrance of the Greek gallery. “And he’s right through there.”

Little Maia had spotted him right away. The sculpture was the new centerpiece of the gallery and had been given a prominent spot. Her jaw had dropped open and her lollipop had tumbled to the floor. Jim had grinned and picked it up, glad his little girl shared his passion.

She’d stared up at the statue of the man. He was so handsome. The way the sculptor had angled his head made it feel as if he were gently smiling down at her. Maia had smiled back, immediately smitten.

Jim walked up to her and placed a hand on her back. He spoke in hushed tones. “He is the god Eryx, son of Aphrodite. He was in love with the mortal priestess of his temple. And she was…?”

“Chloe, silly. I know that,” she’d replied. After countless bedtime stories, she knew all the myths.

“Good girl,” he’d smiled. “And do you remember the story of Eryx and Chloe?”

“The bad goddess Nemesis killed Chloe because she was jealous.”

“And Eryx?”

“He was sad. Forever.” She’d rubbed her little tummy. “Daddy, I’m hungry.”

He’d laughed. “Of course you are. It’s late, sweet pea. Let’s get you some dinner. We’ll come back and see Eryx again.”

Maia’s face had fallen. As much as her belly was rumbling, she didn’t want to go. She liked the statue of the beautiful, smiling god. Even though, all of a sudden, he looked a little sad.

What happened next, Maia had never told her father. Never told anyone.

As she had followed her dad out of the gallery, she’d turned to look at Eryx one more time. Because she was five, and because it had seemed like a fun idea, she’d poked out her green-stained tongue and wagged it at him.

The statue had winked at her.

Now, as an adult, she knew the wink was probably just the overactive imagination of a precocious, little girl. Perhaps the fleeting shadow of one of the pigeons haunting the window ledges of the museum. But it had felt so real at the time. And now, every time she came to work in the gallery, she made a pit stop before the statue of Eryx.

Just in case…

“You’re such a spazz,” she told herself as she pulled her long brown hair into a messy ponytail on top of her head, affixing it with two crisscrossed pencils. “Get to work.”

She turned and seated herself before Poseidon and let out a sigh. With a gentle hand, she cupped the water god’s balls and inspected the extent of the cracks. She’d have to fill them in a little, as well as beginning a general cleaning of the statue. He was starting to show his age.

Soon, between conducting her inspection and making notes, she was lost in her work, oblivious to everything else around her. Once again, she gingerly touched Poseidon’s testes.

“How about inspecting mine?”

Maia jumped when the deep voice whispered in her ear. She snapped her head around, almost wrenching off the statue’s balls in the process. “Who’s there?”

There was no one. Beyond the entrance, Wally was still mopping, but had headphones on now and was mopping to the music on his iPod. He hadn’t heard her cry. The gallery was empty, peopled only by the many statues.

And right in front of her stood the statue of the god Eryx, still bearing the same grin as when she first saw him years ago. The grin which now appeared decidedly randy from her perspective.

“You,” she breathed, feeling her heartbeat regulate after her scare. “If any of you old rocks could find a way to talk, I should have guessed it would be you.” Dismissing the voice as a symptom of overwork and stress over the incoming director, Maia turned back to Poseidon.

Even with her back to Eryx, she felt a warm sensation along her spine. As if she was being watched.

Curvy=Confidence

Pauline Allan — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 02:46:45 GMT

    I look in the mirror, turn--turn again. Suck in my poochy stomach and turn again, hoping I'll look a bit skinnier from yet another angle. Unable to keep up the charade, I let my breath out and walk over to my dresser to grab a pair of undies. I sit on the edge of the bed and thread my calves through the holes, stand up and wiggle the soft cotton up over curvy thighs, and eventually give the elastic a tug and adjust the thin band over my round hips. Perhaps the mirror will be kinder with a little fabric to masquerade the lumps and bumps.
    Maybe it was the underwear. Maybe it was the way my hair hung, mussed from where I'd just gotten out of the shower. Maybe--just maybe--it was the book I'd been reading the night before about a voluptuous heroine and her sexy hero. Whatever stars had aligned, did so just for me. My round cheeks flushed a pretty pink. I tilted my head and blinked. I forced my hands to rest at my sides. The blush that started at my face crept down over my chest. I did a little twist back and forth. A smile tilted my lips. I am voluptuous. I am curvy. I am full-figured. And I am the majority.
    It took many years to find the courage to stand in front of the mirror and not pick apart every flaw that glared back at me. With this new-found courage, I don't use the word confidence because that didn't come until much later, I declared my mission. Sexy men love sexy women--and I'm going to write about just that. As the words turned into paragraphs, and the paragraphs morphed into chapters, my heroines sprouted their butterfly wings and celebrated their lush, desirable figures.
    As I finished one book and started on another I watched the trends pass by. I knew what was sexy, even if men thought it in secret. Marilyn Monroe was deemed the pin up princess in all her voluptuous nature. But, truth be told, Ms. Monroe was only a size 12 at her heaviest. Traditional full-figured women are a size 14-16. So why is she the icon for full-figured women everywhere? It was her shape. While being only a size 12, she had a sexy, curvy shape. Men found that wildly desirable.
    So, let's fast forward. Through the 1960s and 1970s the image of beauty shifted. The thin frame was all the rage for fashion, but the primal image of desire remained the same. As the 1980s approached, the iconic image of Marilyn remained the cornerstone of desire.
    The 1990s was an era of change. Fashion started to take notice of the "average-size" woman and began to accommodate a woman with a fuller bust and wider hips. Another icon landed on the scene and cemented the curvy girl's status as sex symbol. Queen Latifah was not only a talented vocalist, but she was a gorgeous woman as well. Latifah has been a testament that confidence at any size is damn sexy.
    And this brings us to the new millennium.   Christina Aguilera has a voice that can raise the roof and a body that can raise--well, let's just say it raises plenty of things for the guys out there. Ms. Aguilera is a role model for women everywhere. She was talented and sexy when she was a size 2 and she is rockin' hot luscious as a full-figured gal too.
    I'm so proud that the fashion industry, in this day and age has come such a long way. Gone are the days when the runways only allowed the rail-thin models to grace the catwalk. Hell no! We've got Natalie Laughlin to fuel some pretty hot inspiration for the guys and Johanna Dray    oozing sultry sex appeal. With fashion on board and talented artists portraying voluptuous women in a positive light, the truth that was hidden all along is no longer kept a secret in a dusty box somewhere.
    Men love a voluptuous woman. No wait, let me get all the good ones in there--rubenesque, curvy, full-figured, plus-sized, phat...did I forget any? In any culture the power of a woman's figure is undeniable. It induces the primal urge in men to mate. All through the ages the womanly shape of a generous bosom, rounded tummy, flowing hips, and thick thighs are the shape of desire. The shape of sensuality. The shape of confidence.

Contest Question!

Pauline Allan — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 17:50:22 GMT

Okay everyone...here's the question for Cara Bristol's blog interview. You can read my sassy interview at www.carabristol.com. I hope to hear from you! Please leave a comment on tomorrow's blog with Cara or you can answer this saucy question here and be eligible for an amazon gift card!

So, here's what I wanna know...if you could be any fairytale character who would you pick and why?

I'll go first. I would be Alice from Alice in Wonderland. Why? I love the journey, the mystery, and the humor of her story. I would change a couple of things *snickers*. If it was an adult tale I'd surely change the Cheshire Cat to a hunky fireman and the too-late rabbit to a sexy oil rig worker. Um, and they are uncontrollably attracted to each other and oops...I stumble on them in the forest and oh, don't forget Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee the rockin' hot twins who happen to be wearing a pair of matching white boxer briefs. Okay, I think I better leave the story well enough alone now.

Let me know who your character would be and why. Oh, and if you need to change the story up a bit that's okay too. I look forward to hearing from you!

This is a test...

Pauline Allan — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 09:48:20 GMT

Hi everyone! I'm testing this new blog to facebook thing I'm trying to do. Just ignore this. Have a great week everybody!!

Naughty Research-The Inspiration for See Me

Pauline Allan — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 09:02:09 GMT

    I was recently emailing back and forth with a writer buddy of mine by the name of Cara Bristol. She's a multi-published author of Erotic Romance. Her website is www.carabristol.com. I'll be stopping by her blog on April 6th to chat about my new book and answer some interesting questions. She asked what was the inspiration behind See Me. After discussing the journey, she told me I should tell my story about the fun adventure I had learning about my characters and the crazy world I developed for Fantasy Emporium. So here goes. Once upon a time...
    It was over a year ago when I started researching information about how to go about writing a male/male erotic romance novel. I had a basic idea of what kind of story I wanted to write, but was a little unsure of how to go about constructing my sex scenes. So, my little brain starting spinning its hamster wheel and I decided to do some visual research. First I must say, I'm against the explotation of any man or woman, but with that being said, I dove head first into my naughty research project. While surfing different adult websites, and there are tons, I found one that caught my eye and I subscribed to the site. The site was www.codycummings.com. I was intrigued by this man. He was an enigma to me. He would do scenes with other men, but he only let the men perform oral sex on him and he didn't return the favor so to speak. He never induldged in anal sex with the male performers. And then I came across several heterosexual scenes that he participated in. He performed sex with the women and seemed quite happy to be doing so. I watched his face, yep...not kidding, to see what kind of emotion he was letting through. He smiled a great deal of the time and seemed like a fun-loving kind of guy. I thought to myself--what kind of guy is this to let both men and women please him? Does he have a family and does that family know what he does for a living? Is he married and does his wife approve of his profession? Is he an educated man? Do people only see his biceps and six-pack and can't see more that he may have to offer? All sorts of questions raced through my mind. I decided to find out the answers to my questions. I started following Cody's blog and read what he wrote to his fans. He talked mostly about sports! I thought, what is up with this? He's a gorgeous, dark-haired, Adonis and all he's concerned with is who is playing who on what field! I wrote on his blog and he responded. Through talking with Cody and his fans I developed a true picture of who this performer was. He was a genuinly nice guy. You could be sitting next to him on the subway or standing behind him in line at the grocery store. Now, I would of course love to be standing behind that ass in line. Such nice scenery! He was funny and took the time to say hello to everyone and answer all their questions. Then I discovered him on YouTube. I watched interviews he'd given and watched him at adult entertainment award events. I told him I was sketching out a book about a porn star and he thought I was crazy. He answered all my questions and was even nice enough to let me reveal a few of my own little secrets. After plotting out my character arcs, I knew I had the information I needed for the basic premise of the book. I never blogged again on Cody's site. I left him with a "thank you" and that was that.
    Now, how did Sean come out of that? I'm a huge fan of mixed martial arts. I watch the UFC pay per views and shows on Spike TV. I watched Vitor Belfort get knocked out by Anderson Silva and thought what would happen if Vitor's brain swelled from that kick and would Silva be charged with a crime? I thought probably not, but then the light bulb went off. Granted, by brain's bulb is dim, but it's still there. What if they were in an illegal fight, like when MMA was banned? Okay, so that's how part two of Sean's character came about. Then, the final piece that sealed the deal for his character arc. I was in New Orleans at Pat O'Brien's bar and this waiter came up to me and asked if he could get me a drink. I took one look at him and said the name Sean. Before that moment I didn't have a name for my character. He said, "No, I'm Jonathan." And I said, "No! You're Sean! Oh my god, he's Sean!" Of course the waiter thought I was going to need a sedative and wanted to run away from me, but I promtly asked him, "Do you know who Chuck Liddel is?" He said, "Yeah, the MMA figher." I clapped my chubby, little hands and thanked him. He asked, "For what?" And I said, "For finding Sean." He laughed, of course thinking I needed to be institutionalized. I asked him how long he'd worked at Pat O's and he said only a month, that he was going to college. Bam! Sean's entire character arc was done. A guy who was an ex-con because he'd fought in an illegal fighting ring and killed a guy. He got out with a college degree and couldn't find a job. He needed to make money fast and was solicited by a pornography site. The rest fell into place as the story developed.
    Onto Fantasy Emporium. This one was a no-brainer. I've always secretly wanted to start an online adult site catered to women's needs. I've never had the nerve to pursue that fantasy, but was able to live vicariously through my plot. *rubbing my hands together mischievously*
    Abigail is one of my many multiple personalities. Her impatience, anxiety, and love of flip flops all come from somewhere inside me. Her abusive past was inspired by a song written by Tori Amos. The song is titled Me and a Gun. Tori sings the song accapello about when she was raped at gun point. I've been to three of Tori's concerts and that song has always touched a special place in my heart. I enjoy writing heroines that are full-figured or at the very least quite curvy. Being a curvy girl myself, I always hunt for books that have that theme. Sometimes, unfortunately they can be hard to spot among the thousands of romantic titles. So this book, as well as the ones that will follow, all have the curvy girls of the world uniting for their right to enjoy their bodies and be proud of their femininity.
    I love to write pets into my books. The furry little princess with the squirrel fetish is Penelope. Her character was inspired by my real-life Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Persephone. Unfortunately, Perna, as I loving called her, is no longer with me. This was my small way of paying tribute to my very dear friend.
    So, that's the in's and out's of my journey toward making See Me. It was a labor of love...and naughtiness. I hope everyone enjoys reading the book as much as I enjoyed researching and writing it. Just remember...at Fantasy Emporium you're only one click away from where forbidden fantasies come to play.

And the winner is...

Pauline Allan — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:00:13 GMT

We have a winner folks for the Loose Id gift card and free copy of See Me!! Kayelle Allen! Her sexiest body part is her brain. Thanks for entering Kayelle. Don't forget everybody that there will be another drawing on April 5th for an Amazon gift card and a copy of See Me. Which paranormal character would you be? Answer the question for a chance to win! I will be on Allie Ritch's blog on April 7th answering a list of fun questions. Don't miss it!

Another Contest!!

Pauline Allan — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 02:50:29 GMT

Hey boys and girls!! Stop by www.Redzworld.blogspot.com to check out my interview! Stop back by here to answer this question: If you could be any paranormal creature who would you be? I personally am all about the wolves. I want to shift into a white wolf. Which furry or fangy being would you choose? I'll be drawing the winner on April 5th. Leave your answer for a chance to win a gift card to Amazon.com and a free copy of See Me! Also, I'm drawing the name tomorrow around 10pm for the question: What is your sexiest body part? Leave a comment for that one too if you want and have double the chance to win! Can't wait to hear from you!

Stop by to say hello and win a prize!

Pauline Allan — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 04:11:02 GMT

Hey everybody! I'm so excited to announce that I'll be stopping by Kayelle Allen's blog site to chat about my new book See Me and answer all kinds of fun questions. Come by and check it out! The site is www.romancelivesforever.com. What better way to end the weekend than by winning a prize? Answer my question here on my blog and you're entered to win a gift card to Loose-Id and a free copy of See Me. In the spirit of the Rubenesque genre I have devised a question that will make every person celebrate their individuality and embrace their sensual assets. So what's the question you ask? There's something I want to know about you. I'm dying to know! What do you think is your sexiest body part? Ah, feeling a little shy about leaving your answer? How about I start it out. My sexiest body part is my brain. Don't laugh! I have more smut and visual candy in my grey matter than the sky has stars. So yeah, my brain is my sexiest asset. What's yours?

It's Almost Here!

Pauline Allan — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 05:25:17 GMT

I'm so very excited! Only two more days until my book is released. See Me is my debut novel published by Loose Id. This book is a story about a woman, Abigail, who has been running scared from an abusive ex-husband. The only way she can experience intimacy without tempting the devil is through her online adult entertainment site. When she needs an actor for a client's special request, she can't believe her luck when a muscular, dark-haired Adonis walks into her office in need of a job. Sean has had a hard life, shifted from foster home to foster home while growing up has left him jaded and reluctant to trust anyone. After a fight gone bad, he landed in prison. Once released, he had an education and no job prospects because he's a tattooed ex-con. The relationship between Abigail and Sean is explosive and shows how two people on the outskirts of trust and love can find happiness and security in each other's arms. The passion is fierce and the sex hot. Abigail is one curvy woman who is willing to be brave for a chance at a future with her fighter. Sean is tough enough to protect the woman he loves at all costs. This book is about two emotionally broken people finding their happily ever after. I hope everyone enjoys the book as much as I enjoyed writing it. The release date is March 20th. This Tuesday!! You can download the book from www.loose-id.com. Drop me a line if you have a chance to read it and let me know what you think. I would like to thank my editor, Larke Butler, who has been wonderful through this whole process. Her insight and support have been greatly appreciated. The cover for my book is gorgeous and I'm so proud to have it represent the words inside. Hope everyone enjoys my story.

I'm So Excited!

Pauline Allan — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 07:25:18 GMT

I'm so excited. The release date for See Me is coming up so quickly I can hardly keep my breeches in my seat! The edits are complete and now it's just waiting for the big day. I returned from New Orleans...again...two weeks ago and am happy to report I brought back a million little plot bunnies. They are more than willing to pitter pat all over the computer screen. Book two is in the works in the self-editing department. I'm re-vamping the manuscript to fit Loose Id's house style. It's a new and exciting process to know that I'm sending another project out the door. I think I've decided on the desert adventure/romance one. It's a serious story, but I love the comedic breaks I've written in it. Yep, another voluptuous heroine and her hot-hot hunk are on the prowl. Hope everyone has purchased their ereaders and are ready to download a great romance on March 20th. I'd like to take a sec to thank my editor, Larke Butler, for the wonderful job she's done with my story. She's been a rock and a godsend all wrapped into one. Hope everyone has a great week!

Update

Pauline Allan — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:33:23 GMT

Hello everyone! Just wanted to stop by to write an update on how things are going. I've completed the first round of line edits on See Me. The process was scary at first, but I dug in and the story has been polished to shine. I changed the epilogue at the end and am happy with the results. During this busy time I've been able to read two new novels that I have to take a moment to promote. The first book is titled By His Rules by J.A. Rock. This is a male/male romance that sizzled on the pages. I loved the characters and the deep emotional bond they created. The next book is titled Cage Match by Bonnie Dee. This was a rollercoaster ride of a read. The suspense made me turn the pages. It also is a male/male romance. Normally, I don't enjoy reading futuristic type books, but this one was spot on. The descriptions weren't far-fetched and I could understand what the writer was talking about. No crypton-thingy-ma-bobs. I could understand what the gadgets were. Both books allowed the reader to make an emotional connection to the characters. I recommend everyone download these reads. They can be found at www.loose-id.com. I'm counting down the days til my cover is ready. What will the artist's vision look like? I'm so excited to find out. I've decided to read one new author per week and post a review on my blog. I want to read first time authors putting out their first time books. It's an exciting process and I want to support the new writers. For this week the book is titled Battered Hearts 1: Defying the Odds by Kele Moon. This book is a heart-warming story about a famous mixed martial arts fighter and a sweet, curvy waitress. As the story unfolds we discover that even a hardened fighter can have a heart of gold. The hero is not only hot, but sensitive and brave. The heroine is sweet and quirky. I really enjoyed the paring of these two characters. The secondary characters were a nice addition to break the serious tension in the book. The brother and sister duo actually made me laugh at loud. I'm excited to see what book 2 will bring for these two characters. I recommend this read for anyone who enjoys a romance with some heat and a great happily ever after. This book can also be found at www.loose-id.com. I look forward to hunting for the next new author to review for later this week. I actually read Defying the Odds last week so I'll post another book by the end of this week. If anyone has any suggestions for books they're reading that I might enjoy let me know. I'm always in the mood for a curvy girl and her hot-hot hero. Hope everyone has a great week.

Breakthrough

Pauline Allan — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 09:25:26 GMT

I finally had a breakthrough today with the editing I've been doing. I was in a rut on how to piece the puzzles together when shifting a couple of scenes. Now, the puzzle is complete and almost ready to resubmit to my editor. This process has been a great learning experience and I'm gaining a great deal of insight into how to prep my next book for submission. Life is a learning process and boy am I learning!

Great News and Happy Holidays!

Pauline Allan — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 15:16:08 GMT

I wanted to take a moment to say happy holidays to all my family and friends. I know this can be a hectic time of year, but taking time out to enjoy the simple things in life can make us all aware of what true joy is. I have great news! My release date for See Me will be March 6th of 2012. You can download the book from Loose Id (www.loose-id.com). I'm so excited and overwhelmed. Everyone has been so supportive and I appreciate all of the support. Everyone needs a little romance and I hope my book will provide a moment in time of happiness for its readers. Have a great day!!

Welcome

Pauline Allan — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:16:40 GMT

Bare with me while I get this site up and running. Thanks for everyone's support!!

Welcome

Pauline Allan — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 22:48:18 GMT

Welcome to my blog. Please check back soon for new entries.