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.