So the lovely and talented Alison Kent has penned the upcoming Complete Idiot’s Guide to Writing Erotic Romance.

If you’re a published or unpublished author wanting tips in this genre, this is the book to get. It releases on September 5th.

She sent me one chapter as a sneak peek. Planning Erotic Romance: Giving Sex It’s Due. Her writing is crisp, detailed and informative. She provides valuable insights into the sexual encounters a writer plans in an erotic romance and how they must be relevant to the plot and characters and not just dumped into a story as an afterthought. This is such a big pet peeve to me as a reader of erotic romance. There’s nothing worse than reading a book and knowing, just knowing that it’s a cookie cutter version of insert sex scene here. Ugh. Where’s the heart of the characters in a story like that? Sex is such an integral part of the characters, the plot, the storyline itself–something Alison covers quite extensively in this chapter. The chapter also emphasizes staying true to the characters whether it’s story or behavior or sexuality.

I could go on and on and rave more, but I don’t want to give any more away. I’m enticed and excited about this book. I’ve already preordered it and can’t wait to dive in and read it. Because as writers, we’re always learning. And I think Alison and those she brought into this book to offer their expert advice have a lot to teach us about penning the erotic romance.

I’m actually looking forward to jumping back into routine again after the past two weeks.

And this week I have some very exciting news! I’ll be launching my brand new website, and will be moving my blog to WordPress! So stay tuned for the launch! *wiggle*. Mica at Dreamforge Media has created a beautiful a new design and I can’t wait to unveil it.

On a writing note, I received my RWA monthly magazine and read a brilliant Q&A by the equally brilliant Nora Roberts. In it, she discussed her writing life and basically gave a smack down to anyone and everyone who made excuses why they couldn’t write. Man, nobody tells it like it is like Nora can. And when she talks, you can’t help but listen. I’m paraphrasing here, but she basically said there are no excuses. You either want to be a writer and do it, or you don’t. It’s either a hobby that you fiddle around with, or it’s your job. And anyone who uses the ‘muse’ as an excuse is full of shit. (I love Nora *g*).

I can’t tell you how many people I know who constantly come up with reasons why they can’t do it. The muse has gone on vacation, or they have this to do or that to do or something is keeping them from writing. I think that’s bullshit. You either want it bad or you don’t.

I’ve always wanted it bad, though I’ll be the first to admit that there was a time I tried to use excuses, but I finally had to cast those aside. You want it, then you make it happen. You write. You don’t use excuses and you let nothing stand in your way of getting that book done. Short of blood or death….nothing stops you. And you make people around you understand that this is your goal…this is your job. You make them take your writing as seriously as you take it.

My family understands that writing is my job. It’s not my hobby or something I do when I’m not doing something else. It’s my career and it’s what I love and I take it damn seriously.

And the muse now understands who’s in charge—me *g*