And normalcy returns

Wow, has it really been two and a half weeks since I wrote my last post? Uh...yep!
I apologize for missing two weeks of blogging. I can only blame it on the intensive Christmas baking/shopping/prepping I had to do. There wasn't energy left over for more than just the basics of checking emails and dealing with the most crucial of them. Even my writing came to a halt.

Christmas was lovely, spent in the company of my wonderful extended family. My poor Mom, unfortunately, came down with the flu Christmas Day, and so missed the festivities. She's still recovering, but we (my brother, his family and I) will  take Christmas to her in the next few days. The home where she lives has been under a 'no visitors' lockdown due to the outbreak of flu in the building, so we're waiting for the all clear.

Hampering my travel plans in the near future though, is the huge dumping of snow our area got over the last couple of days. It's pretty, I grant you, but it's shitty to try and walk or drive through. I have a terrible fear of falling which makes this kind of weather a real challenge for me.

So, while snowed in, I am getting back to work on my writing. I've finished my short story, Watching Him, which is slated for Cambridge Press for my next volume of Hottest Heat stories. This one focuses on a woman's obsession for, and consequent stalking of, a guy who catches her eye.

I have some big writing plans for 2013, starting with a trilogy of novellas for Phaze revolving around a set of triplets who've just graduated college. One book per sister...obviously...lol. I have a partiallly completed manscript of a Hallowe'en novella that I need to finish by early summer for submission. And I have a wonderful idea for a collection of related shorts that I think will be submitted to Cambridge Press. As well, I'll need to give some thought to my third Hottest Heat collection. All this is on top of my other persona's straight romance  projects. I shall be a busy girl.

February 5th will see the release of my first Phaze novella, An Appetite for Seduction. I'm so excited to see this story published. I hope you'll enjoy it. I had a blast writing it.

So, kids, I'm back on track...I hope...raring to get new stories into your hands.
Have a safe and Happy New Year!
Love from Paige.

so little time these days

Argh, Christmas is coming and I'm not near ready, a condition that seems to happen this time every year. I start thinking of the holidays sometime in early fall, and think, 'Oh, I have tons of time to get this all done'. Then next thing I know, Christmas is two weeks away and I'm panicking. Sigh. To top things off, I've just been assigned a pile of work for my day job.

So, panic has ensued, and my writing has taken a back seat yet again. Oh, I'm whittling away at things. I do have deadlines to reach. I just had my second story for my second Hottest Heat collection at Cambridge Press accepted. What Are Friends For? is a sequel to my story Perfect Stranger that appeared in the first collection. I'm working on the third story, Watching Him, which I hope to finish within the next two weeks. Then I need to move on to a novella I'm writing for Phaze.

Which reminds me, my first Phaze novella, An Appetite for Seduction, is slated to come out Feb. 5, 2013. I don't have a cover yet, but hopefully soon. I'm also waiting on edits for that one. Again, that'll happen soon.

And in the moments between work sessions, I work hard to finish gathering Christmas gifts, getting baking done, picking up supplies and wrapping. I know that Christmas will come and go in a flash and I'll wonder why I put myself through all the stress. Next year? Get my shopping done in the summer and avoid this last minute hassle. Yeah. Right. Like that'll happen. ;o)

taking the time to say thank you

I did something this week I've wanted to do for a long time. I wrote a thank you note to a writing tutor I had many years ago before I was even published.  His name is Felix Baron and he tutors for a Canadian writing school called Quality of Course. It's based in Ottawa and offers correspondance courses for different genres. I took their Erotica course, and I recommend them highly. I learned so much. www.qualityofcourse.com

At the time, I was working full time at my day job, taking the odd writing workshop when I could, and harbouring a dream to one day be published. I hadn't actually even seriously considered writing erotica. It just seemed like a really fun (and slightly naughty) course to take. What was great was that what I learned in that course crossed over all genres. Good writing is good writing, no matter the genre, so I've applied many of the techniques learned from Felix to my romance writing, my non-fiction writing, and even the play writing I did for a while.

Because life can sometimes throw monkey wrenches into plans, I never managed to complete the entire course. I finished about 2/3rds before being struck down by a series of serious illnesses, one of which put me in hospital for six months. I was never able to get back on track to finish the program. But what I had gleaned from the course to that point did help when I finally made the jump into the publishing pool in 1999.

I'm now published by multiple small press publishers in both the romance genre, and erotica. I'm enjoying a good level of success. And I'm loving the writing journey.

So, Felix, again I say thank you. Your expertise, patience, and encouragement helped me forge a career in a field I love. You're the best!

Happy days...

A Happy belated Thanksgiving to my US readers. I hope you had a wonderful day and are nursing calorie hangovers from too much turkey and pumpkin pie.

I've been enjoying the "new for Canada" concept of Black Friday. To combat the yearly exodus of Canadian shoppers across the border this weekend, Canadian stores are now offering Black Friday deals.  I equate it to our "Boxing Day" which we have the day after Christmas...sales galore everywhere...massive crazed crowds of shoppers...traffic jams, no parking, line-ups, exhaustion. In other words, a chaotic nightmare. I've been indulging in a little shopping online though, and loving the savings...useful on this upswing to Christmas.

Black Friday also brought me three new reviews for two of my stories: Focused Desire, and To Sir With Lust. Three stars for Focused Desire and a lovely 4 nymph review for To Sir. Among other things, these reviewers said:  (TSWL)"...an amusing and occasionally raunchy erotic romance that is surprisingly sweet and sexy at the same time..." ;  (TSWL) "...a spicy scenario that’s tasteful and tantalizing " ;  And my very favorite, (FD) "Focused Desire is a good story and Paige Bennett is an excellent writer." I want to put the underlined bit on a t-shirt. (Brag much? lol)

It's responses like these to my work, that keep me going. Thanks so much to these wonderful reviewers for taking the time to read my work and let the world know what you think.

Another contract...whoo hoo

I just signed a contract with Cambridge Press US for my short story, Aural Sex. Yes, I spelled it correctly. It's my attempt at a clever little play on words. The story revolves around a couple on opposite work shifts, who spice up their intimate life with some imaginative phone sex.

This story is the first of three that will comprise my next Hottest Heat volume. I already have a cover for it, and I haven't even finished writing the last story yet! (Truth be told, I haven't started writing the third story. Shhh, don't tell my boss.)
I did finish story number two today...the first draft, at least. Entitled, What Are Friends For?, it is a sequel to the story Perfect Stranger that appeared in Volume One. Each story stands alone, but it's more fun to read Perfect Stranger first and understand the relationships between characters. WAFF? contains the first ever threesome scene I've written. It was great fun to write, although technically challenging...all those extra limbs and orifices to deal with, and still keep in the correct POV. Quite the challenge. I hope I did a creditable job.

In other writing news, I have made some headway on my non-NaNo project (see previous posts on the subject) I've managed to add about 8000 words to the manuscript, but still have a long way to go to be finished...at least another 30-40,000 words. It's exhausting just thinking about it. And I got sidetracked back to my Hottest Heat stories, especially when my publisher sent my cover proof. Nothing like a little pressure to fire up the writer. I'll get back to the novel again, and I will finish it before year's end. I have too many planned projects for next year, I don't need any of this year's carrying over.

Oh, and a little reminder, my paranormal interracial story, Obsession, comes out Nov. 27th. If you happen to read it, I'd love for you to stop back here at my blog and post a comment.

Well, back to the salt mines, kids! LOL 
Till next time...Paige.

Now for something completely different...

Well, we're halfway through National Novel Writing Month. I've been chipping away at my romance novel. I admit, it's been hit or miss (more miss than hit, I'm afraid). I have added 7500 words, which isn't too shabby, but not near what I'd set out to accomplish. Life, as they say, happens. I'll keep plugging away.

On a happier note, the 27th of this month, my short story Obsession is being released through Phaze Books. This has been a long time coming.

This story is a departure from my usual contemporary romances. I actually wrote it several years ago, and had it sitting under contract with Mundania for a single story downloads project they'd considered at the time. Their direction changed and my story languished.

Jump forward to a couple of months ago. In discussion with my editor, it was decided that with a revision, Obsession would fit nicely at Phaze. It had the interracial romance angle, after all, which my readers at Phaze expect now.  So we made the decision to move it over to Phaze.

And now it's all ready to be released. Here's a little blurb:

It is New Orleans, 1850, and Blanche Paradis, a free woman of color has carved out a good life, including a job she enjoys, and a man she loves, gambler Bart Donovan. One small blemish mars her happiness, the obsessive interest of a mysterious aristocrat, Lucien St.Clair. 

In a moment of weakness, Blanche falls into Lucien’s bed, sealing her fate and that of her lover. For Lucien is much more than he seems, and his lust for the beautiful Blanche knows no bounds.

I really love this story, probably because it's so different from my usual stories. I wrote it in first person. I set it in New Orleans, a city for which I have long held a huge fascination. It is my first paranormal story. And it deals with obsession, betrayal and revenge, all themes I like to explore in my work.

I hope you check it out:  www.phaze.com, Nov.27, 2012.

~Paige

To NaNo or not to NaNo...

NaNoWriMo is upon us. For the handful of you who may not know what NaNo is, it's National Novel Writing Month, where writers all over the world with a shared level of insanity, pledge to write 50,000 words of a new WIP in thirty days. Like I said, insane!  I've taken part (or rather, my alter self romance writer did) five years running...only managed to reach the goal twice. It's exhausting, but when you succeed, exhilarating. And of those two finished pieces, I went on to get them both published...so, yay me.

This year, I decided I couldn't do the whole commitment thing...too much real life stuff to deal with at the moment. But I do have (or rather my alter self has) a half finished book that has been languishing for a couple of years. I'd like to finish it. So I thought NaNo would maybe give me the kick to get it done. I decided to enter 'informally'. In other words, I didn't sign up, I don't participate in the forums and I won't have a chance at the nice certificate at the end. What I'm doing is writing like mad on the days I can, and posting my progress via Twitter. So far, five days in, I've written almost 5000 words. Not earth-shaking, but 5000 more than I had Nov. 1st.  So, wish me luck, kids. I'm going to need it.

In other news, I have been offered a contract for the first story for my next Hottest Heat collection for Cambridge Press. It's entitled Aural Sex, and explores the naughty fun of phone sex. Oh, the memories...but I digress. I have the second story partially written, and an idea for the third story. 

Also, Phaze Books has accepted my novella, An Appetite for Seduction. And here I have some great news that makes me giddy when I think of it. I've been told that it will be coming out in print as well as ebook. The print version will also include my currently available short stories, making it a collection of my work to date. This is huge!! I'm so thrilled.

On a side note, I hope that the east coast is recovering from the onslaught of Sandy. My thoughts and prayers have been with you. Take care.

soggy weather

Well, thanks to the "Frankenstorm" that is bombarding the east coast, the area where I live is being deluged with rain...buckets of it. And it's cold and dreary and makes me want to just stay curled up under the covers of my nice comfortable bed with a  good naughty book and my vibrator...*giggle*

 I really shouldn't complain. At least I'm safely away from the worst of the storm. I have no fear of flooding (despite the buckets of rain), nor losing my roof, nor any of a hundred other horrible things that befall people caught in a hurricane. The worst that can happen is that if I go outside I get soaked before I can reach my car in the parking lot. And this rain is sucking the ambition right out of me.

I have so many writing projects on the go or waiting to get started, and I'm accomplishing nada. I know, I know. Like any good little writer, I should just stick my ass in my chair and get to it. But it's hard to push through the lethargy and make words. It's like my muse has been tranquilized. But write, I must, so somehow I will find the spark.

NaNo starts on Thursday, and I've decided to "informally" participate. I want to finish a book that's been languishing for a year or more now. Another 30,000 words should do it. And I have two short stories I need to fast track and get done, which should come to another 20,000, making the 50,000 total that NaNo requires. I plan, at this point, to post my word count via Twitter each day, to make myself accountable publicly. We'll see how this works out.

My wishes for a safe passage through the storm to the east coasters.
Paige

judging the book by its cover

I just got the cover art for my inter-racial vampire short story, Obsession, and have got to say, I love it.

See what I mean?  Sexy, evocative, captures the mood of my story perfectly.

It is New Orleans, 1850, and Blanche Paradis, a free woman of color has carved out a good life, including a job she enjoys, and a man she loves, gambler Bart Donovan. One small blemish mars her happiness, the obsessive interest of a mysterious aristocrat, Lucien St.Clair. 

In a moment of weakness, Blanche falls into Lucien’s bed, sealing her fate and that of her lover. For Lucien is much more than he seems, and his lust for the beautiful Blanche knows no bounds.

                                     

As you know, if you're a regular reader of my books, I generally write contemporary erotic romance. So, Obsession is a real step outside of my usual fare. I had a blast writing it--first historical, first vampire tale. I wrote the first draft in one afternoon sitting out on the deck of my family's cabin on a perfect July day. Blanche just talked to me and told  her story. I merely recorded it.

I've taken a stab at writing a book length story with these characters, set in modern times, to see what happened after the events in Obsession, but I haven't been happy with the results so far. So, for now, it's a shelved project. But if response to Obsession is positive and there's a demand for more stories about Blanche, then of course, I'll put some thought into providing them.

I have a real affinity for revenge stories, a descriptor that really suits Obsession. Don't know if I want to know what that says about my character...lol.

I don't have a release date as yet, but suspect it might be November or December. I'll keep you posted in the weeks ahead.

too many projects, too little time

Here I am, late again. Sigh. It's starting to become a pattern. I do try to post every Friday...really I do...but then one thing or another pops along and throws me off schedule, and I end up having to apologize again. Oh well, I'm hoping my followers are a forgiving bunch and will cut me a break. I promise to keep writing hot, hot, HOT stories to entertain you. Does that help?

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I finally finished 'the book that would not die', and got it submitted. Still haven't heard word on it yet, but will soon, I'm sure. Like any good writer, once I send a book baby out there, I forget about it and get on with the next project. For me, that's three new short stories for Cambridge Press US for my next Hottest Heat collection. I've finished and submitted the first story, and am waiting to hear back on whether it's being accepted or not. And I'm halfway through writing the second story. This one is extra fun for me, as it's a sequel to a story in Volume one, entitled Perfect Stranger. It just felt to me (and to my editor) that there was more of this story to be told. We were right, so if I do it well, it will be in Volume two.

I'm hoping to have these stories finished by November, because November means NaNo. For those of you who might not know, NaNo is National Novel Writing Month, where totally insane writers all over the world pledge to write 50,000 words in a month. Like I said...insane. Twice over the years, I've managed to complete the challenge, and both books got contracted (after much polishing...NaNo books are rough first drafts...notoriously bad at first blush). This year, I thought it might be nice if I used the month to finish one of my mainstream romance novels (remember...in my other life I'm a romance author) The book has  been languishing half done for about a year and a half now, so time to kick it's pretty little heinie and get it to the finish line.

And then, if I accomplish that, I start to gear up to 2013 and the bazillion projects I have planned for the year...including but not restricted to, a series of three interrelated interracial erotic romance novellas, another Hottest Heat volume of shorts, another romance novel...okay, I'm pooped already!

Yep...so many stories, so little time. And all for you, my dear readers.

turkey overdose

I missed posting my blog on Friday due to a holiday weekend up here in Canada (Yep, I'm a Canuck). It was Thanksgiving this past weekend. I am ever puzzled by why we choose to hold it a full six weeks before the American Thanksgiving weekend. It only lends itself to confusion. Perhaps its our way of appearing as if we're not copying our US neighbours on yet another thing. *shrugs*

Whenever it's held, it's always a wonderful family time, and this year was no exception. Too much turkey and stuffing, way too much pumpkin pie (or lemon meringue...or, oh no...pumpkin for sure...oh, all right, a slice of both...with extra whip cream please...sigh), the horrendous cleanup after the manic day or two of cooking, the over distended belly that aches even as you reach for just one more nibble of dark meat...one more scoop of mash potatoes smothered in gravy. Argh. My stomach aches just thinking about it. And we have a month and a half to recover before doing it all over again for Christmas.

Speaking of which, I'm starting to panic that Christmas is only a couple months away. I haven't even thought about gifts for this year, let alone where I'm going to get the outrageous sum of money to pay for them all. Hey, it'd be great if some of you decided to buy some of my books. I promise to spend all royalites on gifts for others...really. (actually, just half kidding here...the buying my books part, not the spending on others part)

And speaking of my writing work, I've contracted another short story with Phaze. This one is called Obsession, and is my first foray into the paranormal. It's a very dark vampire tale of revenge--something quite different from my usual erom fare.  And I sent them my 'story that would not die' novella, An Appetite for Seduction, but haven't heard yet if they want it. Keeping my fingers crossed. I'm now working on a new series of three shorts for another Hottest Heat collection for Cambridge Press US. Fun, fun, fun!

A happy belated Thanksgiving to all my Canadian readers. And a happy Columbus day to my American ones. I hope you all had terrific weekends.

finally done...

Some time ago I posted, groaning about the story that would not die. It had started out to be a short story for Phaze. Then before I knew it, it was a very long short story, and in the end, decided it was going to be a novella. Well, it's finished! Yay, and hallelujah!  40,670 words that I hope readers will read and thoroughly enjoy.  It's entitled An Appetite for Seduction, and as the title might suggest, involves a food critic and a chef--and some really hot sex. LOL I'm quite happy with it, and hope the acquisitions editor is too. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

In the meantime, you can head over to www.paigebennett.homestead.com and check out my already available works from both Phaze and Cambridge Press US. I've been working on updating my website and have excerpts and reviews posted. I'm thrilled so far with the bulk of the reviews I've had for my stories. It's always great when something you've worked so hard on gets praised.

What I'd like to see more of is feedback from you, my dear readers. You can leave a message in my guestbook on my website, or you can email me at authorpaigebennett@gmail.com .  I love hearing from readers, and do listen carefully to what you have to say to me.

 

Just a reminder, that my latest two releases were: To Sir With Lust, published by Phaze, and The Hottest Heat, published by Cambridge Press US.

I hope you'll consider checking them out.

And so, with Appetite finished, I now head back to my notebook (a writer's work is never done), and begin work on my next short collection for Cambridge Press US, Volume 2 of the Hottest Heat.

Until next time,

Paige

Cambridge Press US has released by first Temperature Rising Collection of Adult Stories. The collection consists of three erotic shorts: The Gift, Rebound and Perfect Stranger.

The Gift, written in first person, takes the reader on a voyeuristic ride through a very unusual birthday celebration.

Just as the title suggests, Rebound explores a womans rediscovery of her sexuality after a particularly ugly breakup.

Perfect Stranger incorporates a hot sunny day, a boat on a lake, and a smoking hot encounter with a 'perfect stranger'. Watch for a sequel to this story in Volume 2 sometime later this year or early 2013.

Up to this point, the erotica I've written has been more of the erotic romance variety, therefore a certain amount of formula is inherent. With The Hottest Heat, I was able to step outside the boundaries of e-rom and that was a lot of fun for me.

Writing the Gift in first person, for example, made it very personal for me. It's been one of my favourite stories to write so far. And Perfect Stranger has an open ending. No 'happily ever afters' found here. I think the language is a tad more graphic than some of my other work, and the sex scenes hotter. I strive to live up to my moniker as 'The Mistress of Titilation'.

It is my hope, dear readers, that you'll be intrigued enough to buy The Hottest Heat. If you do, let me know what you think at authorpaigebennett at gmail dot com. Or leave me a note in my guestbook at www.paigebennett.homestead.com  You can even come back and comment here on my blog.

Look for The Hottest Heat at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Fictionwise.

New book releases

Yesterday, my latest interracial erotic romance was released from Phaze. Here's the cover blurb:

When Ray Simmons first notices sultry Kendra Phelps in his class, he is torn between his professional ethics about dating a student and his overwhelming attraction to the sexy coed.

Kendra, on the other hand, has no such dilemma. She's hot for the handsome professor and is determined to seduce him.

When libido triumphs over conscience, the resulting encounter brings on a chemical explosion that changes both their lives forever.

I liked the idea of the 'forbidden' romance...teacher and student. Mind you, my heroine is a twenty-one year old college student, so technically an adult and therefore of legal age, but the hero is a good fifteen years older than her and in a position of authority over her.
It was fun to explore their growing attraction, and to see how they overcame the obstacles in their way.

Some of you may object to the nature of the relationship (he being her teacher). Some will object to the age difference. Some might even object that it is Kendra who is the aggressor in the relationship. I do hope it's a story that generate some discussion.

I, personally, have come to the conclusion that age is just a number. Some twenty-one year olds are very mature and responsible. Some thirty-five year olds are immature and irresponsible. It is the character of the person that counts, and the chemistry that exists between the two consenting adults.  What do you think?

September is a good month for me. I have another release coming up mid-month, this one from Cambridge Press US.

The Hottest Heat is a CRP 'Hot Shorts' EBook anthology for those who want to get off sizzling quick. Volume 1 features stories from the mistress of titilation, Paige Bennet, 'The Gift', 'Rebound', and 'The Perfect Stranger'.

That's me...the Mistress of Titilation!! How cool is that?

it's been a while

It feels like forever since I wrote my last post. In cyber-time, I suppose it has been. My absence has been for a good reason.

For the past four summers, a group of female friends and I have headed up north to my family's holiday cabin for a week of rest and relaxation. It started when one of my friends went through a particularly nasty divorce, and the rest of us felt she needed some serious love and support from her girlfriends. We flew or drove in from our various corners of the country and had a grand time. Lots of good food, energetic talk, laughter and yummy cocktails. The first year was so good, we decided a second was in order. Then the third. And now we've just enjoyed our fourth. And yes, we have our fifth planned for next year, with an interim visit around Canadian Thanksgiving weekend. We had great weather until the last couple of days, during which multiple cocktails numbed our disappointment at being unable to swim or sun. We ate FAR too much rich food (oh, those brownies. I dream of those brownies!) and stayed up way too late. It was great.

When I got home (and I'm surprised I could make it, I was sooooo exhausted) I spent a few days just sleeping and convincing my body that I did not hate it, and would not abuse it so badly until next year.(I am not a spring chicken anymore!) Then began the daunting task of catching up on everything I'd put on hold. (300 emails anyone?) And finally I got down the to-do list to 'write blog entry'. Ta dah! Done.

September is going to be a busy month. Phaze will be releasing my short story 'To Sir, With Lust'. I'm still waiting for cover art for this story. Also Cambridge Press US will be releasing my first ebook mini-collection 'The Hottest Heat'.

I've been busy with edits and the business end that comes from upcoming releases. You can find out more about each at www.paigebennett.homestead.com

The story that will not die...

Sometimes as a writer, you run into that story that just will not finish. I have run into just such a beast.

For the past year, I have been writing short stories for Phaze and for Cambridge Press, works between 5,000-15,000 words. Nice easy to handle lengths. I have managed to get six stories published in the last ten months or so, and a couple more due later this year. It's been a nice rhythm to maintain. And then THE STORY happened.

I had this idea for a story revolving around a chef and a food critic. I had a great opening hook and a cute scene where she gets mad and....well, I don't want to reveal too much just yet, but suffice to say, mayhem ensues. In short order I was up to about 5000 words, and I hadn't gotten to the first love scene yet. Hm. I didn't let myself get too concerned just then, but when 10,000 came and went and still I hadn't reached the getting naked part, I began to fret. Had I misjudged my WIP? Was it not a short, but instead a novella?

Well, okay, I could handle that. Actually a novella would be a good thing. It could be priced higher, so I'd get a larger royalty from sales. Yes, I quite liked the sound of that. So I continued. Well, today I reached the lower end of novella length at  20,000 words, and after chapters and chapters of build up and flirting, I'm on the verge finally of the first toe curling love scene. Um, really?? 

It appears I have taken on the story that will not die. It seems it wants to be a novel. I didn't want to write a novel. I don't have time to write a novel. I have two or three novel WIPs already waiting to be finished. Why would I ignore them to write a new one?  But it seems that the choice is not mine. My characters have spoken. I am just their reluctant servant. Le sigh...

release date change

I was just informed that Focused Desire's release is delayed by two weeks due to some cover art issues (my artist had some trouble finding the exactly right image for my heroine). So, that makes the new release date July 17, I believe. I've seen a mock up of the cover and love it, so imagine that the issues have now been solved and we can move on to typesetting etc.

I admire the artists (and particularly my artist at Phaze) who take my vision and create the covers for my books. Such talen!  Considering that the cover is the book's 'first impression' out in the world, the artist's job is so important, and it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy to know that an artist is willing to go to great lengths to ensure that my vision...my characters...my make-believe world...is realized.

To cover artists everywhere, I bow to your talent and genius.

stressful times

It's been a couple of weeks since I last posted here. My elderly mother got very ill, very quickly, and was hospitalized. Hence, everything else in my life went on hold. I live an hour away from the hospital, and I have mobility issues of my own, so trekking to the hospital every other day took a toll on me. Thankfully, she's rallied and is improving daily, so the bulk of the stress is behind me, but I'm still dealing with the effect on my poor, beleaguered body. Time and rest will set me right, and then it will be business as usual.

Just a reminder that July 3, my story Focused Desire is released from Phaze. http://www.phaze.com/ As usual, it's a sizzler of a tale, set in the world of high fashion photography. I hope you'll check it out. You can read an excerpt at http://www.paigebennett.homestead.com/

When life hands you lemons...

It's been a bad week. My dear elderly Mom had to be admitted to the hospital, and I am a frazzled ball of worry. On the up side, test results show no serious ailment, so it appears that an infection and resultant wearing down is what we're dealing with. Hopefully, antibiotics, fluids and rest will turn the trick and she'll be back to her old self in no time. I am ever the optimist.
At times like this I'm glad for my extended family. We are a clan who rally around to support whoever is going through some trial or other. My brother and I feel that support now, and it really helps.
And in a strange way, the stress seems to fuel my drive to write. I think that writing is an escape for me. If I can keep my mind occupied on the trials and tribulations of my characters, I spend less time getting angsty about my problems. So I've made great strides with my current WIP and have even started mapping out another story I'm dying to write. I guess this is some of that lemonade you make from all those life lemons...lol.
If you have a moment, please send some good energy my way. I could use it. And I promise to return the favour the next time you're in need.

upcoming new stories

I've had a satisfying couple of days in my writing life. I was offered a contract for my new erotic romance entitled To Sir, With Lust. (Yes, I'm shamelessy making a glancing reference to my all time favourite movie from the 60s. The young Poitier made my heart go pitter-patter, and I can sing every word of Lulu's title song.) My version takes place at the college level (because I'm mindful of the taboos regarding underage sexual content). My heroine, Kendra, falls in lust with her English professor, Ray, and, as with all my books, graphic steaminess ensues. I'll have more details upcoming here and on my website http://www.paigebennett.homestead.com/

And my story, Focused Desire, finally has a release date from Phaze: July 3. So I hope you'll watch for that and consider picking it up. You can read an excerpt of FD at my site.

Blurb:  Five years ago, budding photographer Jessamyn Daniels lost a plum fashion assignment that would have put her on the map, to her then boyfriend well known photographer Dillon Grant. Feeling betrayed, she ended the relationship and for the next five years managed to avoid him while she rose in the ranks of the industry.

Dillon Grant never got over the love of his life, Jess. When the opportunity comes along to work beside her on a shoot, he calls in every last favor owed him to ensure it happens.

Though the situation on the day of the shoot is awkward at first, Jessamyn soon realizes she’s never lost her desire for the talented artist, while he will do anything to bring them back together as they once were.

I'm hard at work on a new story for Phaze which I hope to finish in the next couple of weeks. And I have an outline for a Hallowe'en themed story I hope to write then. At that point, I need to shift focus and do some work for Cambridge Press. They haven't released the work I have contracted with them yet, so I haven't pushed getting new stuff done for them. But the day of reckoning will come and I don't want to be caught flat-footed.

So my darling readers, that's where I am at professionally at the moment. I do this because of you and your support over this past dozen years I've been slogging away at the writing game. Your interest spurs my creativity. So thank you.

more thoughts from the closet

Well, the sky did not fall, and my 'real identity' remains safe. LOL. Why did I worry so much? 'Cause that's who I am. I worry. I worry about everything, it seems. I even worry about worrying so much. I guess I have issues. Maybe I need some therapy.

But then again, perhaps it's this very angsty-ness of my nature that allows me to empathize with my characters so well. I get where they're coming from. All of them struggle with their insecurities on their way to finding love and lust with the right partner. All of them make mistakes and need forgiveness. All of them need a shoulder to cry on, and I offer mine. Sometimes I can work through my own life experiences by writing them through the eyes of one of my characters. It helps. I often find unexpected answers. Sometimes I can write a character who acts and reacts in a far more mature and confident manner than I ever could in real life. And I'm proud to find out I have that in me, somewhere.  There's a great satisfaction to being able to give a character the HEA ending she or he has earned through their struggles in a story. It makes me feel good. And it's cheaper than professional therapy.

So the Masked Smutwriter carries on, secure in the knowledge that she is providing a necessary service to her characters and for her readers: providing romantic smut that warms the heart and tingles the libido.

My latest story, Cheek to Cheek, has been released at Phaze. I hope you'll check it out.

peeking out of the closet

I must confess that I'm still in the closet. No, not in the way you think. I'm in the closet about being a writer of erotic fiction. Most people don't know the real face behind Paige Bennett and I've done that for several reasons: my poor elderly mother would have heart failure, I think; my entire professional life in my day job, required a squeaky clean image and that's hard to shake off; I'm still a little bashful at times that sweet l'il ol' me writes smut.  But my brother, who I trust and adore, knows.

Well, yesterday, after a couple of afternoon cocktails, he teasingly let the proverbial cat out of the bag...in front of our Mom! Thankfully, I don't think she heard clearly, but she did question the swift elbow in the ribs I gave my brother--who merely laughed at my red face. I fudged around about it, and got the subject changed, but ended up being grilled by his son-in-law later who would not let the subject rest. Sigh. So now he knows too.

And there it begins. My outing. Part of me is alarmed that if people in my "real" life find out, it will change their opinion of me. I shouldn't care about this so much, I know. If they love me, they love all of who I am, even the smutty parts...lol. But the fear is there, nonetheless. Another part of me though, is enormously proud of how well my erotic romances have done so far. People are buying them, by the hundreds, and coming back for more. That makes me happy.

I guess I have to have a little intervention with myself and give myself permission to be out and proud and uncaring about stupid prejudicial attitudes that make me want to feel shame. Eroticism is an integral part of who we are as humans. We need to embrace and celebrate this side of our nature too. Right?

luck or miracle?

It seems that miracles do happen. I just found out my story, Lust and Found, is still in the running at the Swirl Awards. Yippee!

I'm a doofus...

It's official. I'm a doofus. Sigh. And it's all because I failed to check my Paige Bennett email addie every day. The Swirl awards are underway, and I missed the deadline to finalize my entry by two days. TWO DAYS! All I had to do was send in a pdf of my entry, and finalize my personal details. But I missed the reminder email ('cause, remember, I'm a doofus) and so the awards go on without me, and my book Lust and Found.  I'll get a chance to enter again next year, and I will do it, and you can bet, I'll be obsessive about checking that email addie on a daily basis.

Now for some good news. I got my cover art for my story Cheek to Cheek. And it's gorgeous.

Single highschool coach Jared Whitman is horrified when his little sister insists that he take ballroom dance lessons in preparation for her upcoming wedding.  Diandra Davis loves teaching ballroom but it can't fill all the lonely corners of her life. When the two meet the attraction is instantaneous, the heat palpable, but a big misunderstanding threatens to keep them apart. 
It's coming out May 22, from Phaze. http://www.phaze.com/  I hope you'll check it out.

The continuing saga of "Joe" and other works in progress

So, I saw Joe again. Sigh. Considering my reservations about getting involved, I'm really enjoying myself. It seems parts of me have been asleep for a good long while, and it feels good to have them awakened...in very yummy ways. I'm still not sure where it's all headed, but am working hard against my usually impatient, self doubting nature, to just go with the flow.

And along with my promising love life, comes a renewed furvor to my writing. I'm inspired. No, I won't write the juicy details of my own pursuits, but instead will dig deep into that naughty side of my nature that I tend to keep in tight check in my everyday life, and see what deliciousness emerges.

At the moment I have a few works in progress:
*a May/Dec pairing of coed and professor where the coed is clearly the aggressor (the sex is HOT)
*a short novella around the food services industry...(hm...the food scene in the film 91/2 Weeks comes to mind...or the one in the classic, Tom Jones)
*a sequel to a story I have contracted with Cambridge Press in which I'm planning my first threesome scene
*and the nigglings of an idea revolving around a female long distance trucker
And there's a notebook full of other ideas and notions.

It's almost May, and May 22 brings the release of my inter-racial short story Cheek to Cheek from Phaze. Here's the blurb:
Little does Jared Whitman know, when his sister signs him up for dance classes in preparation for her wedding, that he will meet the sexy Diandra Davis and have his whole world turned upside down. But an early miscommunication and some erronious assumptions threaten to end their relationship before it truly starts. Can the pair trust their obvious attraction and the growing heat between them, enough to cast their doubts aside?

Everybody's twitterpated in the spring...

Last post, I wrote about finally meeting Joe. Well, my blogger friends, it's been great so far. He's sweet and funny, charming and sexy, respectful but with just the right amount of naughty...sigh. I'm so glad I decided to take the plunge and ignore the age difference. I sense that my life is about to become a tad more interesting.

And that brings me to today's post. What is it that makes the men in our lives the heroes of our own romance novels? For some it might be great abs and a killer smile. For other's it might be the teddy bear cuddliness of their fella. Perhaps tall, dark and brooding is your perference. Or short, balding and submissive. It doesn't much matter, if that man is the one that makes your motor hum and your girlie parts get all tingly.

In looking over the smut I've produced so far, I'm seeing a pattern in my fictional heroes. They're generally tall, well built, ruggedly manly (strong jaws, muscled arms and shoulders....think, Marlboro Man), alpha in their work lives, but gentle and sweet with their ladies, generously endowed and wickedly talented in the sack. I compare these paragons with the men I've dated and, not once, have I ever dated anyone remotely like these guys.

Instead, I find it's the inner qualities that attract me to a guy. Intelligence ranks high. I'm turned on by smart men.  And funny. A sense of humour is a must. Men who pursue me (but not in a crazy stalkery way)  Thoughtfulness is a must. Oh, and looking at me as if I'm the exotic dessert from a gourmet feast.

I'd be interested to hear what you think makes for the ideal hero in your life. Maybe you're one of the lucky ones who actually found your Mr.Right. Tell us about it.

Till next week, then...

Friday the 13th

I know today is supposed to be about bad luck superstitions and all that, but for me, I think it might just have become my new favourite day. You see, today I finally met HIM.

Several years ago, on a whim, I posted a profile on a dating site. And over the years I was approached by a lot of guys, only a few to which I responded. Of those few, only one or two went on to become relationships, albeit shortlived ones. A couple of years ago, HE (and from now on I'll call him JOE) contacted me. He was quite a bit younger than me, so initially I decided I wouldn't respond, but he was so cute and his profile really spoke to me. He professed to like 'more mature' women, so one day I worked up the courage to send him an email.

Well, that led to a flurry of IMs back and forth, then we upgraded to phone calls. Joe was so charming and funny with just a touch of naughty boy to make things exciting. But I hesitated to meet face to face. We talked about it a LOT. He pushed hard for a meeting, a LOT. And still I hesitated. I think part of me...a large part...was afraid of somehow disappointing him with the silver in my hair, and the lines on my face and the work that gravity has done to my figure. Stupid, now that I look back on it.

I give him high marks for perseverence, because I must have been the very definition of frustrating for him. But every few weeks he'd call...sometimes I was there to get the calls, often I just got messages. But they kept him in the forefront of my thoughts as I tried to work through my insecurities and take a chance.

Well today, he was working in my area, not ten minutes from my home. He called. I answered for once. And after the usual pleasantries he suggested getting together for coffee. So there it was...the moment of truth. Would I finally just close my eyes and jump in the deep end, or would I find some flimsy excuse to put it off and perhaps finally slam that door shut.  Well, I jumped. And I'm ever so glad I did.

Joe is charming, and handsome...yes, and younger than me (by more than a decade)...but it doesn't seem to matter. The sparks are there on both sides. He thinks I'm sexy. Well, hot damn, I am!! I'd just forgotten for a while. And he's definitely a ten on the hot-o-meter. Life sure just got that much more interesting--and not a black cat in sight.

And the winner is...

Yesterday, I learned of a new writing competition, The Swirl Awards, that pays homage to multi-cultural and interracial romance and erotic romance. It seems strange to me that a competition like this hasn't existed before now, but I'm glad to see it's arrival. I entered my short novella, Lust and Found, which was published August 2011.

From a promotional point of view, I'd love to win. That winner's banner would look so fine on my website...lol. But I expect the competition will be fierce because there are so many great writers of multicultural books, so I'd be happy to final. That in itself would be an honour. I know my book has been well received and garnered good reviews, so I'm hopeful.

I believe judging happens in June, so I've a long wait ahead, and I'm not the most patient of women.  I imagine I'll be driving myself a little crazy. The key to survival is to get busy on new work. So I'm well into a new story for Phaze, have another partially written that I needed to take a break from to mull over a bit, and I have an outline for a new story for Cambridge Press. So I have no excuses for sitting around biting my fingernails (a nasty habit I just can't seem to break.)

So, dear readers, wish me luck if you don't mind. I'd appreciate the support. And if you're curious about just what it is I do write, you can go to http://www.phaze.com/ and find my stories: The Awakening of Alyce, Lust and Found, and Beautiful Music. And if you want to read excerpts, you can find them at my website:
http://www.paigebennett.homestead.com/  

'Till next time!

Here are the first three books that I have available through Phaze. My book, Cheek to Cheek, will be released in May, and Focused Desire will come out sometime later this year.

Kadesha Walters has a good life, a successful business and good friends. The one thing missing is romance. Then one day she witnesses an accident, and finds herself being interviewed at the local precinct. It's here she meets Detective Rick Connors, a big handsome cop who makes her pulse race. Lucky for her, he's just as smitten.

Their romance has a rocky road at first. His work demands his full attention as his team closes in on an important perp.  But then she is terrorized by a burglar in her own store, and Rick's focus turns to keeping his woman safe. The sparks ignite between them and they find bliss in each other's arms.

Nyree Grant, a rising singing sensation discovered on YouTube®, longs to meet a man who can match her in the passion department.

Jack Harris, a successful contractor, has become obsessed with the beautiful singer after seeing her internet video. He's thrilled when she's set to play some concerts in his city. His goal is to meet, and to have, the lovely chanteuse. 

It is lust at first sight for the two and they soon find that they make beautiful music together.

Alyce Mason has it all until she is forced to choose duty to her ailing mother over her love for her highschool sweetheart Gavin. Heartbroken, he leaves town for college and doesn’t look back. She still loves him and regrets what she's lost, but feels that door is now closed.

Twelve years later, at Mrs.Mason’s funeral, Alyce is stunned to run into Gavin, who has come home to pay his respects. But before they can rekindle their relationship, he's called away and she begins to have doubts.

"You must go out there and live your life now. I mean it. Don’t get old and die with regrets like me..." These words, uttered by her mother on her deathbed, resonate with Alyce and, feeling she has nothing left to lose, makes a decision to do just that. She books a trip to a tropical resort catering specifically to plus-sized singles and their admirers.

Through the hedonistic activities she witnesses, and through friendship with a charming Italian, Antonio, Alyce comes to gain confidence in her own attractiveness and sensuality. And when Gavin once more returns to her side, she trusts in the love they still share.

Hi Everyone. My name is Paige Bennett and I write erotic romances or, if you prefer, smut. I currently have work with Phaze, an imprint of Mundania Press. http://www.phaze.com/ and will soon have work released by Cambridge Press, a new kid on the block.

My stories at this point are either interracial or BBW stories, or a combination of the two, although I don't limit myself to these two types. I like all kinds of naughty tales, as long as they are good and steamy.

I'm pretty new to the blogosphere, so please bear with me as I learn the ropes and get into a rhythm of blogging regularly. I'll try to keep the posts interesting and relevant with the hope that you'll come back often to visit. Your comments are always welcome and appreciated. I'll enjoy getting to know you all.