The Year That Was 2015

2015 will be memorable for at least a couple of reasons: 

1. I started writing erotic romance, followed by a category that I swore not to touch.

Have a read if you're so inclined!  

https://www.literotica.com/stories/memberpage.php?uid=2484683&page=submissions 

2. Got a new job, followed by a realistic look at finances.

3. A whole new determination to have fun in my last year of the 30s LOL

So what was your 2015 like?

And what's life without music? The music list that reflects my 2015!

And the videos that didn't quite make it:

And 

Dancing my way into 2016!

Holidays, Hops and Humour

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Pendulum Swinging

Yes, the swinging is making me dizzy: some good some weird bad.

Bad: Was klutzy again. managed to offend a friend with an e-gift (ok, only I could do something like that and it wasn't even intentional), didn't do any writing!

Good: Had some ideas, avoided an awkward meeting with all 3 of my ex-fiances (well, it became 3 separate lunches instead) and caught Star Wars!

My take on Star Wars: The Force Awakens :

Great plot. Lots of parallels and self-referential allusions. The patricide in the case of killing off ___ ___ (I do have some self-preservation instincts you know) by ____ ___.

Is the new heroine Rey going to be part of another replay of Leia/Luke? The movie was fast paced as would be expected of an Abrams production and the Kasdan/Abrams collaboration seems to ensure a tight storyline. Very in the spirit of Return of the Jedi and the original series. Brave destruction of the Republic which creates expectation of the next part of the trilogy. Best of all, seems to suggest sweeping away the relics of the past without losing the mythic arc.

A Letter to Readers

It's that time of year again when many celebrate and some reflect on the year that's been. It's been quite a year for me. Started writing and publishing in the second quarter of the year. Made a few new friends online. Started a more active  social media presence. And started on genres that I never thought I'd ever dare to touch.

Themes of betrayal have always fascinated me and I guess it shows through the work. I've always liked Alexandre Dumas' work. That was a major driving force behind the effort to learn French, which is still a work in progress, stalled by lack of time and resources. I miss French classes and French cinema! Even the declensions, which drive me up the walls!

Revenge for the betrayal suffered has been a unchanging principle for me perhaps because I've seen betrayal early in life. Some have jokingly attributed that to the horoscope ^^ LOL

Yet I prefer to think of it as an Old Testament thing, you know the part of the bible that provides all the drama and brimstone (plus fodder for Hollywood blockbusters!). Mind you, I like a happily ever after like most but I can't accept one that occurs because one party was hoodwinked or unfairly dealt with. If this offends you, please do not read my recent work. Those not offended by some brimstone, please read on! 

Real life: started a new job earlier this year, contemplating moving as the wanderlust beckons and I'm ready to start looking earnestly.

If circumstances allow, I'll return to the Continent soon and may even go back to school, I know, I know, I'm addicted to the freedom of student life, but hopefully, I'll be in less claustrophobic surroundings, another experience of dreaming spires madness is not quite for me!

Hopefully, there'll be time to breathe in the new year and I'm looking forward to a little break so don't miss me too much!

Hope to post one last story before the year ends - I'm unusually hesitant about the story because it has my guts roiling and I'm afraid what that might cause in my dark/twisted imagination LOL read and find out!


Lastly, here's wishing a really wonderful holiday season to all readers and keep reading and giving feedback! I've donated most of my holiday budget to charity and no cards going out this season I'm afraid but I'm sure you won't mind since a vulnerable individual or family out there will be eating and warmer this season!

Apparently, my Christmas story is out : Have fun! From the comments, the knives are drawn LOL! Maybe I should bring out the turkey hurhurhur!

Sneak Preview of Christmas Special

Hope everyone's having a good lead up to the holidays!  My new story should be up soon, but for those who can't wait, here's the link to a sneak preview:

http://goo.gl/1a9bTO

Enjoy!

Wishing Upon A Star

It's been a weird week.Almost swore I was going to de-stress this week but embarked instead on another project that had my guts all twisted. Actually it was probably practice run for the next project which just thinking about it already has me all in knots - visceral reaction.

Been slowly feeling ill and had to try to get some rest - pretty sure I'm gonna have to take sick leave soon but gonna hold off as long as I can.

Watched Justin Kurzel's Macbeth. Liked some, didn't quite like other parts. The opening sequence, though  different from Shakespeare's Act 1 Scene 1, probably explained why Lady Macbeth turned so bloodthirsty and certainly  the speech regarding the babe. Of course, it provides a reverse psychology explanation for the infamous lines she utters in Act 1 Scene 7. An utter repudiation of social expectations regarding the roles and emotions of woman and mother. In this play as with the other Shakespearean tragedies, a woman who oversteps boundaries becomes a monster. Anyone else thinks patriarchal misogyny? In some ways, the ending, with the ominous juxtaposition of Fleance and Malcolm points ironically to greater historical accuracy than Shakespeare himself intended in his attempt to pay tribute to his patron James I.

Ok now that the boring stuff is over, have a laugh (hey I did and laughter is something I'm happy to share with readers) at one of the latest short films from the Ice Age franchise, funny though probably inaccurate description of the evolution of the solar system LOL.

Yikes just realised that was the German version, please enjoy the English version here!

And move your body like Snoopy and Charlie Brown – still miss those holiday videos featuring the Charlie Brown gang though I don't quite miss the cousin who introduced me to them! Have fun!

And now why the title for this post?

Well, I can't wish myself 20 years younger or change history so I'm simply going to go ahead and wish I can live the life I want real soon!

Timeout, profiles and intentions

It was great taking some time off this weekend. Went for a movie, yes, it was Mockingjay (not that there was that much of a choice). Caught myself thinking it was really predictable with all the tropes and archetypes. Ok, I'm not a fan of the series but I thought with the hype and all, well, maybe something different would emerge. The love triangle, especially the scene where both guys are talking and Katniss is pretending to be asleep nearby, was so formulaic that it reminded me of the Simpsons' dig. Half the cinema was rocking with laughter at the half-hearted chemistry onscreen. Kinda reminded me of the last installment of Twilight, again I'm not a fan and it was the result of a masochistic dare between me and my ex-fiance that I ended up watching the last film of the series. I'm not sure why we made that deal, guess we were both in a masochistic mood then, why else would we want to watch stuff we hated? Irony was we'd already broken up by then but both of us still stoically fulfilled the deal. Anyway, Katniss choosing Peeta was quite predictable, after all what says bad boy and true love than one who tried to kill you at least twice. Of course, it's all utopia restored in a dystopian world when Peeta and Katniss are pictured with their cute progeny in some country paradise at the end of the movie. Seriously?

So I had to redeem myself with some popular culture that was not so erm formulaic : Cirque du Soleil's Totem. Yikes, it poured on the day I went, it was so heavy that we could hear it through the tent. Started thinking we might need an ark if it continued raining. Fortunately, it stopped at some point. Ok, so it was best summarised as a bunch of body beautiful people in acrobatic moves. Surprisingly, the one sight that kinda stunned me was the skater who played the native American princess. She was wearing only a G-string for her bottom and hopefully it was a bodysuit she had on, if not, I'm sure the guys in front might have been blinded by the sight of her pubic area as she skated round that tiny platform. And the ladies weren't left out, there were more than a few woah built bods there, mainly upper body strength though, the legs were quite normal, always made me wonder just how balanced they could be or not LOL. I generally prefer my men solid hurhurhur. So I'm dirty-minded, bite me. Anyway, it was entertaining but lacked the grace that their performances are often known for. The scientist/professor was probably the most balanced in terms of his performance. Well, think he was the only guy who wasn't stripped down to his skivvies! Here's a clip from the Vancouver perfomance : https://youtu.be/RjeIzO6LORM?t=5m9s


And it's been a weird week, first the invite to go "hunting" with another friend on account of our irresistible Scorpio natures, then the profiling. Another friend apparently created a profile for me using her account details on OkCupid, apparently, it was for my own good. She apparently didn't think it a great idea to go hunting, so despite my freaking out, I ended up answering more than 130 questions and having a heat map generated for me (I kid you not, the term was heat map) that showed my best chances were in Eastern Europe and oddly enough, the US - LOL - never dated anyone Eastern European. Guess I'd better tone down the German and brush up my French, can't do the Slavic languages so I wouldn't even try. Then I decided not to go for a cruise though invited. Sorry, we all know what a cruise entails both for couples and singles and I'd rather not piss people off on a floating island so to speak. And also in the course of the week got amused by a Facebook "friend's" attempt to make me a female submissive - apparently, no one knows me well enough to know I don't have the right DNA to be submissive. Sighs, guess that puts paid to the possibility of me being some Anastasia huh? Hurhurhur. Darn and I had my Christian too.

 And just in case anyone was wondering, here's my heat map for the US - go figure!

So I'm thanking all friends who have made efforts to help me find love in its myriad forms. But frankly, I'm not sure I'm ready to indulge. While I'd prefer not to step into my next decade alone, I'd rather not do something stupid. Plus, I promise, if I win the big lottery, I'll quit my job, return to the UK, finish my grand tour and have my year of romance complete with life plan. Guess I better start buying the lottery tickets huh?


Things are also a lot less hairy since my ex returned my funds to, guess the message finally got through to him after 3 years that there's no way back. Still, we've been friends for almost 20 years so it isn't ever going to be easy. Note to self: do not ever share investments with your fiance, especially if he earns more than 10x what you earn and therefore owns a lion share of your investments, thereby giving him the power to claim that he can't pull the investment yet...over 3 years! Well, you live and you learn I guess :p

Taking A Breath

It's been a crazy few weeks and I'm stopping to take stock of everything that's happening.

On the writing side of things, I'm gonna have to ask for some patience as there's a line of stuff to be done and it'll be some time before normal programming returns LOL! I'll still post, just less frequently so keep checking my other blog and outofshadows on Literotica!

On the personal side, think my ex has finally gotten the message after 3 years and I'm getting the last of my part of the investments back. And I just heard from someone I haven't talked to in 5 years and had an invite along the lines of "let's go out hunting since we're irresistible - at least according to our horoscope" So I'm having heels and skirts at the top of my shopping list though I'm still unsure if I wanna go hunting with Ms Self-Destructive. I still remember her as I dragged her into rehab 5 years ago and I remember thinking I was closing an important chapter in our friendship 5 years ago. And though hunting alone sounds daunting, it's gotta be better than getting hit on in real life by a very weird bunch as I'm already hit on in cyber space by nutters such as the one below:

Bear in mind, that was the first conversation I had with the guy and nope, I didn't say anything that could have made him think whatever he thought. My friends saw my replies and laughed loudly asking why I was unfailingly polite with these weirdos. As I've said, I attract the nutters. Had another message from a different person just this evening -sighz, why can't I just attract the nice ones?!

Rollercoaster

It's been a hell of a week, had quite a "reception" on BTB Forum : Founder's Story. Had to rethink the plot for Airbag Thanksgiving Absolution which took extra time, so (hopefully) the conclusion will be posted later today!


Here's my way of apologising:

My NightTime Music List 

Song number 9 goes to a friend who's been nice enough to be supportive this week - you should recognise this song - Happy for you that you've found happiness, am guessing the story with the title of the song is the one closest to you! Envy of the rest of us still treading the broken road but still really happy for you!

Ok, off to hopefully keep the promise on time!

Stepping on a Literotica landmine

Oh boy, think I've just stepped on a Literotica landmine, the first comments on the latest work I've submitted is eoouch! Then again, oh well, it has to happen sometime I guess. :p

So just in case anyone wants to see what the slams are about, here's the link

https://www.literotica.com/s/btb-forum-founder-s-story

Warning: contains themes of infidelity, incest and vengeance.

Have fun, just don't slam any harder :)

For me, it's back to work. Maybe salvage things or at least not make it worse?

Quick Updates

Thank you to all readers who've read and given feedback on Behind the Screaming Headlines. Am working on another and trying to fulfill promises though that looks increasingly difficult!

Excerpt from upcoming work on my other blogsite!

And lastly, thoughts and prayers for all friends in Paris

Older Not Wiser

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Latest erotica links, Spectre review and music

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Upcoming

About to post my first ever Loving Wives story on Literotica. Final edits which I hate. Which is ironic considering my day job. Just in case the website refuses to post asap. Here's the taster! And yes, older, probably not wiser, so thanks for the greets!

Behind The Screaming Headlines
This is my first attempt at writing a Loving Wives story. It was based on or inspired by a celebrity whose life was embroiled in scandal some years back but it’s not a retelling of her story, rather an active re-imagining of her life. Originally intended as a novella, life and distraction intervened, so apologies for what is likely to be a read riddled with gaps and questionable relevance. 
I tried not to wince but it was near impossible. However accustomed you may be to seeing your name in the media, when it’s coupled with the words “cheating slut”, it’s never a pleasant affair. They had got it all wrong naturally. I suppose, after all the years of being in the business, it was to be expected. And in retrospect, it was a small price to pay for the vengeance I had exacted.
Lifestyle guru cheated on husband! Sordid affair revealed! I regret this betrayal of a good friend! It was all there in the screaming headlines. And I knew the picture presented to the public was of an adulteress running away from public attention and condemnation because of her scandalous deeds. Frankly, I could give a damn but didn't. I simply drove with little in mind other than relief that my long plan for vengeance was almost over and I was finally out of it all. I looked into the rear view mirror at my teenage daughter and son and suddenly, I just felt tired. All the scheming and pretense simply to fulfill that deal Patrick had made to secure our future. The years of guilt and acting had taken their toll and I was just drained.

****

And because I can't go for the concert

Like the cheesiness of it all, even the hair. Hey I liked Macgyver lol!

Taking A Break

Been running around getting tasks completed and still hopelessly confused after all the inspiration - note to self: stop reading and getting distracted- Have I lost you dear readers yet?

No? Good! Best news I've had in ages!

Anyway, thing is I'm taking a break from posting and stuff simply because it's that time of year to wind down and reflect on growing older but not wiser! So, don't give me up for dead if you don't hear from me for some time on social media!, I'm alive!


To sustain dirty-minded fellow readers and writers,have a go at the latest extract:
http://eroftasy.blogspot.com/2015/10/behind-screaming-headlines-extract-1.html

And have a great Halloween!


And just to creep out all the '80s pop haters:

Hey I grew up listening to this and American Top 40 alternating with Top of the Pops!

Updates and excerpt

Yet another week and the end of the lovely weekend! Would it be childish of me to wish I didn't have to go back to work? After all the classes taught over the weekend, I've barely had time to breathe!

Made some new friends over the last few weeks in the online writing community and am actively considering doing an erotic horror cheating wives story lol Be careful what you ask for DFWBeast!

Before the "horror" emerges, here's another excerpt from a sequel to a cheating wives story that I'm working on. The back story is Ellen had a lustful encounter with Stu on a business trip and when she finds out she's pregnant, she assumes Stu is the father id the child and her insistence on keeping the child drives a wedge between Ekken and her husband Rob. Unknown to Rob, Elklen had several more lust-filled encounters with Stu. Eventually, Ellen reconciles with Rob and rejects further advances from Stu. This is the original plot from Just Plain Bob's great "Rob and Ellen" series and the reason why I've dared to venture on a sequel is because I feel bad for Rob. Ellen got away with everything and has little to no remorse over her behaviour and despite the risk of sounding like a "conservative" - it ain't right. This excerpt is about 1/5 into the sequel I'm still working on. Enjoy!

He was finally showing his true colours as he towered over me and I
cringed, waiting for more. Rob stepped between us.

Stu turned his fury on Rob. The ugly sneer on his face was accompanied
by his disgusting jibes.

"What's the matter Rob? Cant keep your wife satisfied and too pussy
whipped to let her go?"

Even as he swung his fist, Rob caught him mid swing and told the
deputies who were rushing to the mêlée," You're all witnesses. He's
attacked my ife and has attempted to attack me." As Stu was led away
by he deputies, he aimed a look of chilling hatred at Rob and me.

"You're not getting away with this!"

His lawyer blustered after him as Rob looked at him and shook his head
before remembering that I was still n the ground.

"Are you ok?"

Rob's gruff voice almost brought me to tears.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"You should get some ice on that cheek. It's gonna bruise bad."

The NSFW version is on my other blog, enjoy! goo.gl/SXywEX

The Payback Preview part 2

Been another week of mundane soul-sucking life and while some writers have responded to ,my requests to write follow ups, there have some who have redefined the sound of silence - oh well, life marches on.

The Payback Preview 2

In fact, through chatting with Cindy's colleagues and Ricky's
investigation, he had pretty much nailed down when and where Cindy had
first met Jackson. The summer training camp a year and seven months
back that Cindy had signed on for. It wasn't a school sponsored event
but had been recommended by the teachers association that Cindy
belonged to. Jackson had been the life coach hired by the event
organisers. The irony that Jackson wrought such a huge change in the
lives of his wife and himself was not lost on Steve.

While they went through the preliminaries of introduction and
handshaking, Steve watched Jackson's expression and was sure he noted
a certain glimmer of smug satisfaction in the man's eyes. Was Steve
paranoid? Maybe. Was he tense? Definitely. Not because his motlrtal
enemy was in front of him but rather because he was about to bring a
crucial element into the game. Cindy had been behind him chatting with
the other executives' wives when he gently turned her around and
introduced her to a new service provider who was to run their
corporate training camp this year.

Steve could barely prevent an evil smile as Cindy recognised her
former adulterous lover. Her eyes widened in shock and she turned pale
as Jackson gripped her limp outstretched hand in greeting. Noting that
Jackson had held onto his wife's hand for longer than was appropriate,
Steve cleared his throat and Cindy unfroze, snatching her hand back as
if Jackson had burning coals in his hand.

Exclusive Peek at The Payback

Been working on cheating wives story collection while battling sleep deprivation, exhaustion and depression - yup, not happy bunny here :(

Nevertheless, here's an exclusive peek at The Payback.

Some background information: Steve, the protagonist of the story, has had a terrible year and a half. His wife of 24 years had decided to embark on a journey of sexual discovery with a stranger and while she has refused to divulge the identity of her adulterous lover, Steve has known the identity of her lover for some time plus a few rather unpalatable details. For better understanding, please read the original story 'Hypocrite or Cuckold' by StormX on Literotica which inspired this followup piece. If anyone is unhappy with the story please blame me, as StormX has played no part in the twist in this followup and I'm grateful for his original story which has inspired this short story. This is but the intro and the NSFW part will be on my other blog http://eroftasy.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-payback-preview.html. Enjoy this raw preview:

The Payback

What do you say to the guy who has made you a cuckold? That was the
question Steve faced when he came face-to-face with Bill Jackson at
the company social event for clients and potential service providers.

It had been 10 months since Cindy, Steve's loving wife, had ended her
"exploration" journey and hence her relationship with Bill Jackson.

Steve was surprised to find himself quite calm when he found himself
shaking the hand of the man who had been a principal source of the
cracks in his marriage.Yes, Steve had made efforts to put aside all
the obstacles, hurt and raw pain that resulted from his wife's journey
and decisions. Cindy had been nothing if not eager to please and
smooth over the fissures that had appeared in their married life.

The first month back was the most painful as the couple made
adjustments. Within a week of Cindy's return, Steve realised the first
casualty of Cindy's decision. Trust. After the euphoria of regaining
his wife, Steve found himself sinking into a dark valley of doubt and
insecurity. It started with his review of Cindy's affair. Having discovered
that she had run around behind his back for 2 months( only, at least
according to her) before she confessed and brought his world crashing
around his shoulders, Steve realised he no longer trusted his wife.
After struggling with himself for a few days, he decided to reactivate
Ricky the PI who had gathered the information /evidence from Cindy's 9
month affair. Well, he counted it as 9 months since he was pretty sure
his wife hadn't jumped into bed with Jackson on first date, or at
least he was willing to give the slut whore the benefit of the doubt.

Sneak Peek And Invite

If you're reading this post, consider yourself invited to Fall In Love 2015 on Facebook on 26 September 2015 from 11am to 1pm ET. Simply connect with me on Facebook and get invited to games, contests and giveaways on my book page!

Here's a sneak peek at my upcoming contemporary romance short story collection. It's not easy reading and some parts of it makes me feel all tangled in knots. The unifying theme is betrayal and two of the stories are written as sequels to story series which have inspired me. As a feminist, it's the first ever that I've felt sorry for the men. So be prepared for a rocky ride!

And heads up, my review of Kat Crimson's Jizziebelle is coming soon and as I promised her this is my first eromance review on the blog, hence the promised cheating spouse stories review is delayed.

No pouting! Some hot excerpts from the upcoming collection on eroftasy soon!

AshMd, Research and Review

Apologies to all readers for the silence - been caught up with work and trying to research my latest novella. At least a part of the new novella is about a cheating spouse and have been reading some works to get a grasp of it. Let's put it this way, I normally avoid the genre simply because I've seen how infidelity and cheating devastates individuals and families, in terms of acquaintances, friends and family. The fallout and possibly continuing fallout from the Ashley Madison leak will show no matter how high tech this world gets, infidelity and man's baser instincts are old as time and devastating no matter the era. I'll review all cheating spouse works that have inspired emotions next week.

I gradually realised I'm exorcising personal demons in this novella, some of the characters within the novella are based on people I've had the misfortune to meet and be acquaintances of. That includes one of the few women I've ever been tempted to apply the term "beeoch" to: BT. In real life and in the novella, BT was a bully who triggered a bout of deep depression and OCD in her victim while being the skanky beeoch who thrived on being feared. Hence the perfect antagonist. Oh and did I mention she's a lawyer who's been described as a bulldog - which no dress and string of pearls quite conceal.

And as mentioned in an earlier post, I'll be basing the protagonist on a celebrity and before the accusations and potential lawsuits get filed, this is a creative reimagining of the celebrity's life. Any coincidences are just that.

Watched The Man from U.N.C.L.E. It's an entertaining romp. While it tries for the Fellini feel, ir falls short. Henry Cavill, for some reason reminds me of all those Cary Grant/ Spencer Tracy movie characters - some thing about those suits makes his back view very 40s-50s. Hugh Grant was decent. Love Arnie Hammer as Ilya - somewhere between camp and action hero. Didn't go in with too much expectation and was not disappointed.

And the date is fixed: The Eros Romance Fall Event is set for 26 September, details coming your way soon!

So much for a mixed post huh, have fun! Have a "banging" week ahead!

Of computer fails and events

Apologies to all who turned up for my takeover session on ReaderJunkies Addictive Reads yesterday (29 August) and the organisers of the event. My nightmare began 5 minutes before the event started when my computer broke down. To make up for it, I'll be organising an event on FB on 26 September 10.30am-12 noon ET, watch this space for more news.

And exclusive peek into my latest erotic romance work, it's dark and the heroine is very flawed, earthy and based on a celebrity :)

Event Alert

Here's another event I'll be doing a takeover for:

The usual applies: Connect with me on Facebook, like the book page and get your invitation to quizzes, games and naughtiness!

Ready To Win

Revved up and ready to go! Countdown begins and questions are being prepared. Who will win?  The simple answer? Those who read the books and therefore know the answers!

Here are the links http://www.amazon.com/Step-Into-Darkness-Part-One-ebook/dp/B00WGDDEF2
And http://www.amazon.com/The-Original-Sin-Part-1-ebook/dp/B0139ABKO2

Just a hint of what you could win

 

 

See you all on Saturday on FB 10-11am EST!

You Are Invited

Readers and friends, you're all invited to the first author/takeover event that I'm part of on Facebook and here's the first glimpse of the event photo that I created - again, people, try to restrain the critical eye lol!

Facebook Link

Click on the Facebook link above, like the book page, connect with me on Facebook and you'll be invited to a fun hour of games, discussion and giveaways!

Summer Madness

It may be the heat or a brief moment of illogical generosity (frankly, the preference is for the latter) but I've decided to offer readers the chance to win up to 10 times the price of each of the two books featured in the events in Amazon vouchers during 2 author takeover sessions. There will be 5 winners in the session on 22 August (event banner to be revealed tomorrow) and 3 winners in the event on 29 August. All answers to be submitted during the event on the relevant contest posts. If there is more than 1 correct answer, there will be a lucky draw.

There are 3 easy steps to winning:

1  Buy and read these two books  http://goo.gl/S5yK7O and http://amzn.to/1MaR8Bz

2  Get your invite to the 2 events in Facebook

3  Answer the questions in the contest posts

Once the winners are announced, winners please PM your email to me - it's necessary for the vouchers to be emailed to you.

Good luck and see you all at the 2 events!

ORS Launch

The Original Sin Part 1 is now on Kindle! Excerpts are now on eroftasy.blogspot.com! Still hard at work on contemporary romance - watch for it!

And a chance article I read via a FB link made me think about which actor would be perfect as a cynical, less than perfect rake and it's

Anyone else thinks he looks like a more buff Matt Bomer?

LOL

Anyway, still haven't figured out the perfect cast for J Crofts!

And I'll be part of 2 author takeover events on FB, so connect with me on FB and get invited!

Review of Mission Impossible Rogue Nation

Love : Action sequences. Good old school action movies!

Bit leery of: The plot. Can't help wondering if the plot was a bit of an afterthought after the action sequences were done.

The short view:

The puns and references are certainly there from names to the heavy-handed spy thriller doses of chaos. Was it just me or was the spectre of WWI hovering in the anarchistic-paranoia fog, reinforced undoubtedly by the assassination of the Austrian political figure. Of course, the dose of world domination chicanery and the choice of London as setting do mean heavy layers of cold war sentiment aided by the distinct 60s and 70s throwback references.

I won't mince words, the plot is pretty thin despite the obvious effort at incorporating twists and turns - twists that, by the way, were visible from a mile away. Of course, it doesn't disappoint as a Cruise vehicle and the action sequences are proof of that. Particularly like the turns at comedy and deadpan seriousness from Pegg and Renner. Ferguson was pretty average as the obligatory femme fatale Bond girl though certain scenes played like an extended advertising sequence for luxury perfume. Baldwin was effective though I can't quite tell if he was just playing another episode of himself - it's uniquely Baldwin but you'll be hard put to identify him as a distinct character. Rhames is still the most believable (read normal) character in an impossible story.

Would like to see more: Action sequences - you wouldn't expect serious metadrama from an action flick the same way you wouldn't expect a great burger from a pizza place.

Wincing: The stereotypes are rather old and tired. It was funny though how the charming British stereotypes are increasingly morphing into evil or funnily incompetent characters at least on screen.

Bemused: The movie's opening credits seem to suggest the Chinese are the main financiers willing to throw serious money at big budget productions with little or no questions asked. Wonder if that's why the Turandot scene is so funnily trite and ironic!

4* (prepare to gawk at the cargo plane and motorcycle chases and wilfully ignore the plot or lack thereof)

Aural Experience

Yes naughty pun fully intended.

The week has been a cross between frustration and hope.

Did get started on Go Set a Watchman Audible review though, so enjoy: http://eroftasy.blogspot.com/2015/07/gsw-review-p1.html

And if you haven't seen the interactive chapter Guardian had on their website, do try it out!

Chill Monday

Taking a bit of time off. Sharing one of my favourite pieces of music

Have a good week friends and readers!

Of Hot Tea, Teens and Magic Mike XXL

To cap off what has been a horrendous, unproductive week, I had a seriously weird Sunday.

First off, angst-filled, lazy teens who obviously don’t like classes on the weekend – who does? Add to that the juvenile urge to try out very cheesy flirtation tactics on their drama teacher and I’m reminded why the male of the species often make me go “Seriously??”

So, to de-stress, smart little me decided to go for a movie. Grabbing a quick bite on the way. Literally. Hence the hot tea. And forgot the basic thing about not using one’s thighs to hold/squeeze a cup. Next thing I knew, there was sweet hot tea all over my lap.

Ironic considering the movie was Magic Mike XXL. Cat calls and ladies laughing really loud. I guess, as isn’t the case with many other things, the objectification of men is almost on par with that of women. Biggest difference as a feminist writer and a teen student (not related in any way as far as I could tell) put it, men aren’t exactly upset by the objectification. For the review of Magic Mike XXL, please see my other blog :) http://eroftasy.blogspot.com/2015/07/magic-mike-xxl-review.html

Surprise Gift

Big thanks to all who downloaded during the freebie period! A Step Into Darkness Part 3 reached top 100 during that time. Actually took screenshots! Hey, newbie excitement!

So here's the surprise giveaway promised. The first three readers who send in the right answer to the question below by 0001 PST on 14 July 2015 (Tuesday) will each get a US$5 Amazon voucher. Yes, it's a tiny prize and really just a way to thank readers who take the time to read.

The question: What is the one word in Part3 that appears in a different colour and which chapter is it in?

Answers must be sent in to this email, please do NOT submit answers on any other channels. Early readers are not allowed to take part and the copies you have do not have the same identification point, you have a item/gift, so don't pout! 

Reads and Freebies

Always great to have a ray of sunshine after the "rain"; good to know the writing is not disappearing into nothingness!

Before you read the latest chapter, read The Original Sin Chp 1 and Chp 2. 

And to thank readers, A Step Into Darkness Part 3 is FREE on Kindle from 0001 to 2350 (wouldn't chance the last 10 minutes) PST 5 July!  http://amzn.to/1K5SQTM 

Free for 1 Day!

To thank all readers and fans and to celebrate #July4th : A Step Into Darkness Part 3 is free on #Kindle only on 5th July!

Get your free copy in 24 hours at AMAZON only

The Original Sin Update

It's been a crazy few days, I've resigned and am between jobs right now. It's for the best, just not the best feeling in the world. The downside is the job hunt begins, the upside is I'm leaving a horribly toxic atmosphere.

For readers (where would I be without you?), alternate story arc update will soon be available on Literotica. Read The Original Sin Chp 1 and 2 before reading Chp3 :) Marguerite and Henry will be forced to part soon and dark, dark revenge will soon be upon some members of the Brotherhood.

Part 3 of the original story A Step Into Darkness is now on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited. Part 1 and 2 are also available on Amazon, Google Play and iTunes among others!

Blushes

The lady is caught.. For what made her blush read the full story at AMAZON!

In desperation, she pushed back, hoping to move off his thigh before he noticed. The unexpected low groan and the feel of his hard arousal nudging her bottom made her gasp and turn only to stare her captor in the eye.


When she turned abruptly, her blush told him she was unaccustomed and uncomfortable with desire. That brought both arrogant satisfaction and gentle appreciation. Swooping in for a kiss, he felt her hesitation melt into tentative exploration as her tongue rubbed gently against his.

Victoria and Jamie taster

How hot when the guy takes care of the girl! For tender loving care read the full story at AMAZON. 

The gentle way in which he made her lean back in bed and how he used the cloth to wipe her down left her feeling relaxed. Taking little notice of how his hands lingered over her breasts and thighs, she drifted off to sleep.


He breathed a sigh of relief when he spotted her lids fluttering down in exhaustion. Carefully, he drew her into his arms and slept cradling her.

Part 3 Jamie Taster

It's live! Please visit AMAZON for more of Jamie and Victoria...

Taster 1: Waking to the glorious spread of red curls across his arms and chest made him smile and snuggle close to the beautiful hellion in his embrace. Giving in to temptation, he placed light kisses down her neck, moving slowly towards her breasts. The growing heat of her skin and the red flush painting the cheeks of the sleeping beauty was more arousing than he had ever expected.


For the NSFW version, please visit http://eroftasy.blogspot.com

Countdown Launch Trailer

Count down trailer is now live! Watch here on YouTube 

Countdown!

The countdown begins. Part 3 launches tomorrow! Read the alternative arc preview before catching Part 3 -  http://eroftasy.blogspot.com/2015/06/fulfilment.html

Coming Soon

If you have no idea what that title refers to, you've missed a most of my posts the last few weeks! A Step Into Darkness Part 3 is coming soon!

Will wrap up The Original Sin alternative story arc in the next few weeks too. Revenge will be visited upon a brotherhood villain - it's violent and definitely not for the fainthearted according to an early reader.

To whet your appetite, think what would happen if a villain is left in a locked room, naked and defenceless among a group of women he abused and assaulted. The guy is toast..

Till the next post: have fun with OR Chp 3 part 2 http://goo.gl/cW8ApL

Nearing Completion

Yessh! About to complete Part 3! Cover almost settled! Released alternative story arc chapter 3 on http://eroftasy.blogspot.com/2015/06/sneak-peek-chapter-3-part-1.html Hot sauce coming next week! Pun fully intended!

Blasting Away!

It's been a crazy week and apart from busying myself with the alternative arc chapter 3, Part 3 of Book 1 is about to launch!

Here are my Goodreads and Amazon pages, do connect even if they are "work in progress"!

Moving onwards

Progress as usual, hopefully, alternative arc Chapter 3 will be up soon :)

For the time being. healing part 2 is up! http://eroftasy.blogspot.com/2015/05/healing-part-2.html

And I'm pissed with Amazon Kindle after discovering my ebooks aren't accessible despite being listed. From now, only promoting other platforms Google Play, iTunes and Barnes and Noble .  Have fun reading, rating and reviewing!

Alternative Story Arc

No secret that I'm inspired by what I read and at a friend's suggestion, re-read Ariel Dorfman's "Death and the Maiden". Moved and disgusted by Paulina and Gerardo respectively. Might turn up in odd parts of future work!

The serial of Chapter 2 of alternative story arc continues on eroftasy: eroftasy.blogspot.com/2015/05/healing-part-1.html

Writing Chapter 3.. wondering how much honey to tip into it lol!

Till next time!

Post at the end of a crazy week

Been a crazy week ending in an awful cold. Curling up with my favourite kinky reads and continuing to weave the journey into dark desire. Hint: Jamie takes over Victoria's senses after initiating her in Part 1 and signing possession in Part 2

The Original Sin Story arc continues its serialization on http://t.co/M5LiVf0TyM

And while I hate to throw complications in the lovebirds' way but all this will only make it sweeter and hotter later on!

Enjoy the week ahead!

Goodnight, goodnight

About to start a new job tomorrow, so a fond adieu to the free time that allowed fairly frequent posts and writing. However, I will still try to post regularly and keep to schedule!

Here's the link for chapter 2 of Marguerite's story which will be serialised in a manner similar to chapter 1 http://eroftasy.blogspot.com/2015/05/aftermath.html  Chapter 2 is more "traditional romance" in style. Enjoy!

Leaving all with these lines from Ophelia via Eliot:

Good night, ladies, good night, sweet ladies (and gentlemen), good night, good night.

Chapter 1 Preview

Been wondering if there was any point in what I was doing, hence the long silence. Don't quite have the answer yet, but here's the final installment of Chapter 1 preview as promised http://eroftasy.blogspot.sg/2015/04/into-darkness.html

And the fun contest again as promised, DM me on Twitter or email me the family names of 3 of the Brotherhood members. Contest ends 0915 Wednesday 29 April 2015 ET when I'll be checking for responses. First 3 correct respondents will get to read Part 3 preview before publication!

Here are links for Part 1 and 2:
Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Step-Into-Darkness-Part-One-ebook/dp/B00UYFSJ3G
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VMQUIN0

Google Play
https://play.google.com/store/books/author?id=Judith+Loewe

iTunes
https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/judith-loewe/id985105872?mt=11

Barnes and Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/judith-loewe

Wine And Erotica

It's Friday! Hope all readers are having a good one. Finally managed to have a glass of wine and relax before the "super" work weekend. Plus crackers with peanut butter. Ok, weird combinations, but it's sparked off a thought about Food Play ~ expect to see that in the works soon!

The serialization continues as well, the violent part is today, so heads up for those who are a little more sensitive. Link is here http://eroftasy.blogspot.sg/2015/04/purgatory.html

Once the serialization of Chapter 1 is done, there'll be a fun contest: the first 3 readers who can point out the paragraphs from the book which are missing from the serialization will get to read the first chapter of part 3 before it's published! Details of that contest will be announced at the end of the serialization.

Have fun this weekend! Preferably ordering and reading a copy of  A Step Into Darkness Part 1 and 2 available in Amazon  , Barnes and Noble , iTunes , Google Play and BookRix . LOL Well, you can't blame me for trying!

Latest serial instalment

Hope the day has gone better for readers than it has for me :(

Funny how erotica always makes things better!

Here's the link for the latest instalment: 
http://eroftasy.blogspot.com/2015/04/hellfire-club-nightmare.html

Warning: not for the politically correct or faint-hearted!

Enjoy!

Fantasmes Érotiques

Yes! The new blog is up! All previews and serials will be on this new blog. Check out the first post/treat :) 

Hope readers will enjoy waking to a nightmare !

Recharging

Felt overwhelmed by the numbers game and had to take some time off. Had a weird day off, felt like a target of sense attack! From the salty Alfredo to the bitter overdone caramel popcorn and the overwhelming artificial strawberry scent, bleh…

Fortunately, all was saved by the massage, though my back feels like it’s falling apart now…

Nonetheless, am working on a short story right now and Chapter 3 of The Original Sin.

For readers who would like the Google Play version of A Step Into Darkness :
Part 1 https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=f0IgCAAAQBAJ
Part 2 https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Judith_Loewe_A_Step_Into_Darkness_Part_Two?id=6o8RCAAAQBAJ

Have a good week ahead!

Heat Rising

And it isn't just the weather! Moving on all 3 fronts with short story collection, the contemporary romance plot and A Step Into Darkness.

Just realised that Part 1 and 2 are available through Google Books/Play as well:

For A Step Into Darkness  Part 1, click here 

For A Step Into Darkness  Part 2, click here

Have fun with the samples! Enjoy the heat!

And a link for my secret indulgence: Luis Mario in Gata Salvaje. The drama was a hot mess but it's fun, fun, fun! And no one, I repeat, no one pouts like this guy lol.  youtu.be/dCiyQDA8z-Q

Rape Trope and the Part One controversy

When A Step Into Darkness was first conceptualized, it was not intended to be a bodice ripper, though I’ve read a fair number of them, including some of the more infamous examples, particularly Christine Monson’s Stormfire.

As Part One was released, I braced myself for the backlash though precautionary measures were taken that included reducing the details in the description of the rape of Marguerite, Mary and Cicely by the Brotherhood. That rape scene was intended to show the misogynistic thought processes of male characters such as William Wentworth in the 1700s, where the only desire that counted was that of men. Hence, the exercise of power in terms of desire and sexuality was male-centric, the most extreme example being the Brotherhood, which some astute first readers have realised takes inspiration from the Hellfire clubs of Wharton and Dashwood.

That Marguerite’s son goes on to rape Victoria Wentworth in an act of revenge that ironically echoes his mother’s ordeal is as much revenge trope as it is rape trope. What disturbed readers most was perhaps Victoria’s physical reaction. To clarify, she is not experiencing rape fantasies and the scene is not meant to express that trope either. Rather, it expresses the male view of sex and desire as power over the female. Victoria’s reaction reflects her identity at the time, a young single lady who has been closeted within the confines of social regulations for much of her life, expected, in most circumstances, not to have sexual encounters or experience. The awakening of desire and the journey it takes female protagonist 1 (yes, there is at least one other who does not appear till Book 3) on will be the exploration of desire from the female perspective within a male-centric social structure. That is in essence the direction of the narrative for the series. Hopefully, this resolves most questions and will allow readers to enjoy the books.

A Step Into Darkness is Book One in the Darkest Before Dawn series , which has a total of 5 books.
For readers who would like to have a copy of the books:

A Step Into Darkness Part One is now out on
iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/a-step-into-darkness-part-one/id985919142?mt=11
Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-step-into-darkness-part-one-judith-loewe/1121748210?ean=9783736887084&isbn=9783736887084
Amazon Kindle version http://www.amazon.com/Step-Into-Darkness-Part-One-ebook/dp/B00UYFSJ3G

A Step Into Darkness Part Two is also out on
iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/a-step-into-darkness-part-two/id985105771?mt=11
Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-step-into-darkness-part-two-judith-loewe/1121727028?ean=9783736887138&isbn=9783736887138
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Step-Into-Darkness-Darkest-Before-ebook/dp/B00VMQUIN0/ref=sr_1_5?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1429273605&sr=1-5&keywords=a+step+into+darkness .

Do read and rate! Personal or private responses are welcome as well, email me.

For readers who loved Marguerite and wish to read more about her, please follow The Original Sin series  by outofshadows on Literotica. The offshoot was inspired by reader requests for more of Marguerite’s story arc.

Have a great weekend reading!

Of Hookup Conversations and Book Availability

Attended the Forever Romance Historical Hookup and it was more fun than anticipated! Would have been a lot more fun if silly me hadn't gotten lost on the wrong platform! You can still see snippets of it on the Facebook page for the event and on my Twitter wall @judith_loewe . Many thanks to Forever Romance who hosted the event as well as Lily Dalton and Elizabeth Hoyt who kindly responded!

Thanks to the folks over at BookRix for their patience and help in getting the books out. Here are the links for part 1 on BookRix and iTunes  https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/a-step-into-darkness-part-one/id985919142?mt=11 

Have fun reading!

Am off to download Bumble for some fun!

It's Live!

Yeess!!! Part 2 is out!

Please check it out on:

Barnes and Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-step-into-darkness-part-two-judith-loewe/1121727028?ean=9783736887138&isbn=9783736887138

iTunes
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/a-step-into-darkness-part-two/id985105771?mt=11

Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00W1738SG/?_encoding=UTF8&tag=boo0d5-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325

Leaving you with another snippet before I go do a little dance, no rain but dancing is always fun!

The room was filled with the scent of their lovemaking and the rasps of harsh breaths as they recovered from their wild coupling...

Alternative storyline for Marguerite

Marguerite proved more popular than I had expected, hence, an alternative storyline was created for her that looks beyond the attack. In chapter 2, Marguerite deals with the consequences of the attack and experiences healing with her fiance. The revenge angle will return from chapter 3 onwards and warning: it's not pretty, not by any stretch of the imagination.

Here's the link for the Literotica post :
The Original Sin Ch. 02 https://www.literotica.com/s/the-original-sin-ch-02

One further note before the work week starts proper: Literotica is the only free site online that I post previews or stories on, any other posts on other sites are not mine.

Happy reading!

Book Birthing Pains

TGIF! It's been one hell of a week, between work and writing plus the interminable problems that seem to plague my epub platform, been tempted to throw the towel in. Hopefully, all that's over! C'est la vie!

Hopefully, they'll all be live soon:

Part 2 link and Part 1 link

While I will not do the Frankenstein cry (It's alive!), it will be close!

Particularly if we beat the Cantabs!

For the weekend, a tasty snack from Part 2:
"Seeing how eager you are to fall into bed, shall we dispense with the formalities?" he asked as he started unbuttoning his shirt...

Step Up

Yes! Things are moving on with BookRix. Links to follow soon! Apologies to readers who downloaded the earlier versions on Kindle or other stores, wasn't aware the unedited version was uploaded. Arggh! Tech failure or failure of common sense, either way, I apologise once again. Off to seek more comfort and inspiration through (no prizes for guessing)sunflower seed draped, honey drizzled, cashew hiding organic ice cream! As a reader noted, part 2 is heavy on the hot sauce and I need some inspiration :P

Another teaser:
The slight creak of the door indicated the entry of her captor. In silence, he approached the bed, drew aside the sheets and raised her skirt. Bracing herself for another attack, Victoria's breath rushed out in a muffled gasp as she felt ...

Let's leave the rest to readers' imagination (that, or buy the book!)since this is not an adult/restricted blog!

The Pre-Easter Post

First apologies to all who had to endure the minor mistake in the latest part of A Step Into Darkness  released on Amazon Kindle and soon to be released on other platforms via BookRix.

My sole excuse is the rush to ensure an update was released before work-related madness begins after Easter. Nonetheless, the update for the alternative story for Marguerite will be posted soon. It will be softer in tone and the focus is on the recovery. The revenge angle will be a little more extreme, but that comes later.

For now, here's a tiny teaser from Part Two, enjoy! Am suddenly thinking of gelato! Wonder why?

He felt her surprise turn into confusion as his tongue invaded her mouth, rubbing against her own, eliciting whimpers that lit a slow fire in his blood. The dazed look in her eyes and her wet swollen lips as he pulled away mollified his pride. Aware of the fire that kiss had kindled in his blood, he stepped back before desire overwhelmed him..

 

The music behind the darkness

Decided to share the music that inspires all the creative juices (bad pun intended lol). Have a listen, trite and angst alert. Don't say I didn't warn you!

Summary of developments

For all friends and readers, thanks for the comments and messages via the various channels! Great to know it's not all disappearing into the black hole of the universe. Tiny echoes are better than the all consuming silence.

Chapter One previews are accessible on Wattpad (heavily edited to protect sensibilities) and on Literotica (mostly unedited). And thanks to reader suggestions, there will be an alternative storyline for Marguerite, The basic storyline is already there and it won't be pretty, Then again I've never been too politically correct.

Last but not least, the YouTube video, again, be kind people.

At the end of the week, there are three storylines percolating, a juggling act with work and life and a craving for telenovelas! Here's the quote of the moment:
One can dream of something more terrible than a hell where one suffers; it's a hell where one would get bored : Victor Hugo

Have a great weekend,and watch for the new chapters next week!

It's On YouTube

A simple video on the book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fd9ml_2sZQs&feature=youtu.be

Be kind people :)

And no, it isn't the audio function that's kaputt, there is no audio!

And no, have no idea why it seems to be categorised with religious videos (eyeroll)!

Chapter One Preview

Following some private messages, a decision was made to upload a preview of chapter one of A Step Into Darkness on Literotica. Here's the link. Enjoy!

Update on A Step Into Darkness

A Step Into Darkness is now out on Amazon Kindle! Here's the link.

For readers who wish to preview excerpts from the first chapter, here's the Wattpad version.

Enjoy!

A Step Into Darkness Launch

My first venture into online publishing!

A Step Into Darkness, part 1, will be launching later on Amazon Kindle today.

Here's an excerpt from Chapter 1 for all fans of romance, desire and revenge!

Marguerite was never quite sure what made her stir from the mists of darkness that enveloped her mind.  Whether it was the faint echo of female whimpering or the insistent whispering of her name.
"Marguerite, wake up.."

A light tapping of her face strengthened the effort to open her eyes, the struggle against heavy lids for vision.

"William..what is happening?" Marguerite hardly recognised her voice, a slurred wisp.
William had a wild look of despair in his eyes.
"I am so sorry. I should never have..."
"Troubled by doubts, my dear Strafford?"

The note of mockery was unmistakable in the strange disembodied voice that suddenly rang out. William visibly stiffened at the sound of the voice.

"Please, let us stop this. She has not seen any of the members nor does she know what is taking place," William pleaded as he turned to face the speaker.

Marguerite faintly glimpsed a masked figure all in black that stood to the front of William. Abruptly aware of the strange surroundings, Marguerite tried to focus on the flickers of light on the unfamiliar walls. Walls that looked roughly hewn out of stone. The first slivers of panic sliced through her.

"Have you forgotten, my dear Strafford, how you were ranting about this whore just this fortnight past. How this faithless whore threw you over for a duke." The ugly sneer sounded out loud.
"Have you grown soft? Remember, she weds Monmouth in a week."

William's face flushed a dark red as he snapped at the figure in black. "I recall all of that perfectly, but this was not what I had in mind when you proposed punishment. Nor did I think that this was what the Brotherhood meant."

Cold steel rang in the dark figure's voice as he gripped William's shoulder. "It is too late, my dear Strafford. The brothers have gathered and I would not try to deny them if I were you." The slump in William's shoulders accompanied the smug note of triumph in the figure's voice.

"What is happening, William?"
Panic lent strength to her voice as Marguerite tried to make sense of a situation that was rapidly becoming sinister.

The tears gathering in William's eyes as he stared at her in defeat made her blood run cold. Suddenly, she noted what had been a niggling thought at the edge of her mind. He was in black robes like the strange figure, except his face was not covered by a mask.

"Ahh, my dear, you've woken from your slumber in time to join us for the main event of our congregation."

Hope you've enjoyed this preview, check out the series on Amazon!