Is erotica a genre you read? And if so, when did you start reading it? For me, erotica is a wonderfully guilty (or maybe not so guilty) pleasure. I love it in all forms: sensual books, movies, and art.
Some of my favorite erotica authors are Emma Holly, Ann Rice (writing as A. N. Roquelaure) and Shayla Black. Some of my fave erotic flicks are “Wild Orchid,” “The Red Shoe Diaries” Movie and “9 ½ Weeks,” which were all created by Zalman King. As for erotic art, I adore the works of Olivia de Berardinis, Alberto Vargas and Jay Trembly. I’m friends with Olivia and Jay on Myspace. Don’t you just love MySpace for that? Whoever thought there would be a day when we could “friend” people we admire?
Most of the key players in The Art of Desire are involved in the art world. The historical heroine is an artist and the contemporary heroine is a museum director. There is also a famous painting of the historical hero that is an integral part of the book, as well as a hundred-year-old journal.
So far the reviews have been extremely favorable, including a glowing write-up from Romantic Times. If you’re curious, here’s the review:
This story has it all–hot and varied sex scenes, a hunky hero to die for, a tough-yet-insecure heroine to identify with and a diary that links the characters to a tragic Old West love affair from a hundred years ago. The happy-ever-after ending is icing on the cake! Feather is an excellent writer who knows which details will evoke just the right emotion.” Romantic Times, 4 ½ stars, Top Pick!
On this site, Sybil recommended The Art of Desire as a book that “…fucking rocks!”
Oh, how I love that!
The Art of Desire is my first erotica and my first book written as Cherie Feather. I’ve always wanted to write a contemporary story with a historical twist. Have you read Kathleen Eagle’s Fire and Rain? It’s one of my all-time favorite books and the contemporary/historical element is what inspired me to try this fascinating theme. I wondered how an old journal would fare in an erotica, so I gave it a try.
First I wrote a pitch and sent it to my agent. She loved it instantly. From there I wrote a three-chapter proposal, but it took me almost three months because I kept re-writing it, trying to get the level of sensuality just right. After that, it flowed. The words spilled onto the pages.
Since then, I’ve completed my second erotica, a spin off from The Art of Desire. It’s called Submission and features a wildly sexy pin-up artist (the hero), a museum historian (the heroine) and two lovelorn ghosts (the historical characters and subplot). Submission will be released in Feb. 2009.
I am also published as Sheri WhiteFeather. My current Sheri WhiteFeather release is Killer Passion, a Silhouette Romantic Suspense that comes out in July. Killer Passion is part of a miniseries called Seduction Summer with authors Nina Bruhns and Cindy Dees. Nina, Cindy and I were asked to write hot, suspenseful stories, and we had a blast creating romances set in Fiji with a serial killer stalking lovers on the beach.
I just received my authors copies of Killer Passion, and I’ll be giving away some of them here. Leave a comment to enter the contest and winners will be drawn at random. Keep checking back to see if you won. I think you’ll enjoy this sizzling, suspenseful book.
I’m also giving away a copy of The Art of Desire. Once again, leave a comment for a chance to win. Then check back to see if you’re the winner.
For more contests, more news, see pictures of my gorgeous grown kids and read my blog, visit my websites at www.CherieFeather.com and www.SheriWhiteFeather.com
Hugs and Happy Reading!
Thanks, Sheri/Cherie!! Again, to win one of the copies Cherie is giving away, comment here and tell us what you like the most about erotic romance. You must be 18 or over to enter, one entry per household, and you must comment by midnight Central time (according to the blog’s timestamp) Sunday, 8 June (technically, 9 June, but who’s counting). Good luck!
I like erotica because it makes me feel sexy. No matter what else is going on in my life, I can read one of these and escape all of that. I love it and can’t WAIT to read The Art of Desire!!!!!
I have read several exerpts from “The Art of Desire” and I really liked your style of writing. I can’t wait to finish it. Thank you so much!!
I haven’t read that much erotica, but I read the excerpts from Art of Desire and really enjoyed it. From what I have read though, I’ve really liked the escapism and the sexiness of the stories – probably because they’re quite removed from normal life, or rather, my daily life.
Way back when I read A.N. Roquelaire’s Sleeping Beauty books… and didn’t read any more erotica for ages. I just started reading it again this year, so I don’t have all that many books to compare and draw favorites… yet 😉
Emma Holly is an author that I can read anything she writes so I have read some of her erotic stories and they are really good.
I started reading erotica about two years ago. I was pleasantly surprised that many of these books weren’t just about sex, but showed the emotional connections between the characters. I’m looking forward to reading your books, Cherie.
Don’t enter me to win The Art of Desire because it’s on my TBR
HOWEVER, I wouldn’t mind winning Killer Passion!!
What I like best about erotic romance is the heat! Seeing the connection between the hero and heroine on a more “basic” level.
Hi Everyone!
It’s great to read all of your posts! I just got back from shopping, so I’m beat. I’ll come back a bit later and chat some more. For now, I’m gonna cool off. It’s hot here. Weather hot. Not sexy hot. Lol.
I like that the bedroom door is open and the way these scenes explore the progression of the protagonists’ relationship. Emma Holly is a master at this.
I love erotica (obviously, by my site lol) and I started reading it maybe 2 years ago. Anne Rice is actually a series that I hated it. It was flat and passionless to me. I couldn’t finish it.
I have been reading erotica for about 3-4 years now maybe more. I love to read erotica because I like to feel the hero and heroine’s character/personalities/emotions and how the romantic stories progress from beginning to end.
Hi Everyone,
Thanks for the comments! I’m enjoying all of your posts.
Erotica is one of my favorite genres because sexual tension is taken to the extreme. When I read (or write) a book, I want to feel what the hero and heroine are feeling. I want to live and breathe every hot, passionate, emotional moment of their lives.
Let’s face it, our own lives aren’t always quite so sexy. I’m having a yard sale with my family this weekend.
Can you say summer fun? 🙂
We’ll be starting our Saturday at 6:00 a.m. 🙁
i have been enjoying them lately. i just like my novels a little more steamy than most, they are fun and explores all sides. so i jsut lvoe it. the covers of teh books are so hot.
Me again. I’m still up. It’s almost 1:00 a.m. here. I guess I better get to bed. The yard sale and all. Lol.
Once again, thanks for your wonderful posts. I’m looking forward to giving away some free books!
I enjoy reading contemporary/historical/paranormal and now and again it’s just lovely to crank up the heat with an erotic romance. *squirm* 😀 Not just the scorching sex but a combination of romance and a good storyline – which can sometimes be a hard balance to find.
I’ve enjoyed reading the excerpts – and find the dual storylines past and present very intriguing. Good luck with the yard sale!
I like reading erotic romance because I like to live vicariously through the characters of the stories. Right now I am currently single and I love to read about other people finding love and having adventures even though I am not.
Good luck with your yard sale! I just had one with a friend the other day and made $77.35. We ended up having a fun girls night out.
xoxoxo
Hey Everyone,
Thanks for adding more posts. It’s been great to see some familiar names, as well as meet new people here.
The yard sale went well. But since we have some bigger stuff left (like furniture), we’ll be doing it again on Sunday.
The only thing that didn’t sell at all were books. I put out a box of old paperbacks (some were by mega authors), so I figured they would sell. Mostly what sold was jewelry, small furniture and clothes.
I have loved romance since I was a teen reading Harlequin stories. I discovered erotic romance a few years back and remember thinking “Now this is what I have been looking for!” I wanted all the romance and an open bedroom door. Before then, I felt that I only got to view a part of the relationship and the chemistry.
Hi Everyone,
Just wishing you a great day!
Erotica is interesting in that it isn’t a cookies and cream story all the time. I’ve grown used to the same sex scenes, same story lines and the same characters with the countless romance novels I’ve read, and it’s nice to find a new genre that keeps me guessing.
Hi Everyone
Thank you again for your comments. This is the first time I’ve done a guest blog spot and I appreciate your input.
I’m waiting to hear from Sybil about contest details. I wasn’t sure if she picks/posts the winners or if I do. Not that It’s midnight yet. lol. There’s still more time for entries.
Also, I’ll be blogging on June 9 (Monday) at Fresh Fiction and there will be another contest. So if you don’t win here, maybe you’ll win there. 🙂
Hugs!
Hi Everyone,
Three winners have been drawn and Sybil will be making a separate announcement with the names.
I’ll probably be back to post the names, too, just in case you check here.
Hugs!
Thank you for your time Cherie!!!!!!!! And the books!!
Oh, and the hot, hot writing!! 🙂
Yes I will be! Sorry I am behind (as always it seems).
EVERYONE really really really MUST read this book. Seriously. Love it and hope to have the review up shortly. I read a bound galley but now have the final. So the review should be up shortly as will the winners ;).
Congrats to the winners! It was fun meeting all of you on this site! For those of you who didn’t win, I’ll be guest blogging this Thursday on Maverickauthors.com and giving away another book!
Thanks Sybil and Gwen for having me here!
Hugs!