Launch deets and Shameless antho

Hello lovelies!

I hope you're well in whatever corner of the world you're reading this blog post from. For me Down Under, it's still all blustery and rainy and I have become a true Aussie, complaining about the cold when there is not a snowflake in sight!

For those of you who don't already know (if you're not into the Facebook and Twitter thing) I am happy to say the book launch for Made For Hire was a success! Hosting the evening with panache and finesse was my new friend, Ms Victoria Purman (another author you should check out - her new romance Nobody But Him hits shelves in less than two months). Not only did I read from my short story, Sweet. Sweeter., but I also managed to secure the amazing talent of Mr Vince Fusco from The Beautiful Strangers to read from Esmeralda Greene's Gardening Days. There were nibbles and drinks and smut! What could be better? A good time was had by all and the lucky Ms Khloe Wren won the raffle for a free copy of Made For Hire! (Khloe is a lovely smutty author in her own right - you should check her out too!)


And then, what fun, Dymocks Adelaide are now stocking the Sweetmeats Press library. And they've even given me a little shout out in their display! Have a look:

With all the excitement over the launch and such, I haven't even mentioned that I have a

brand new short story coming out this month with a new (to me) publisher, Go Deeper Press. My friends, I was compelled to submit ... not in the BDSM way ... to this anthology! Amidst all the usual calls for sexy mommy porn starring bisexual cowboy vampires (okay, I just made that up, but sometimes they all start to sound like some version of that!), here was a publisher asking for stories that "show the world that recovery from sexual shame is both positive and hot." How refreshing! Anyone who has read For Her Pleasure knows I have an interest in this topic. 

This time I approached things from a female POV. The result is a story entitled Wet. Want a little peak? Okay, here is a snippet:

There were things Beth would always remember about that first time with Jeff.

               The blue of the ocean out of the honeymoon suite window glimpsed from the bed over her new husband’s shoulder. The faint smell of bleach the Caribbean cleaning staff used before each new guest. A few small cracks in the plaster ceiling.

               The intensity with which her normally jovial and easy going boyfriend of ten months and spouse of twelve hours said, ‘Okay, let’s do this.’

               The other things, honestly, she didn’t try to recall. But they played like a damning loop in her head. A recording she switched on every morning after that first time, one she would painstakingly add to with only the most searing words from each subsequent and progressively awkward coupling. In the end she would have a highlight reel of the worst moments, a ‘greatest hits’ from those years of shame, a humiliation compilation.

               She didn’t play it willingly, exactly. But out of a masochistic need to remind herself each day:

               This is who you are.

               A woman whose husband finds her repulsive.

    
I know, so short, and it sounds really sad, right? The thing is, there is really no other part I could sample that would make any sense without the back story. But trust me, it goes somewhere hot. Oh, there is naughty fun, my friends, don't you worry. I wouldn't lead you astray! So stay tuned for details on where and when you can download the upcoming Shameless antho.

Love, 

KC

The first Sex In Words. Or: Standing Beside My Poo

I did something last night that scared the fuck out of me. And it was awesome.

I think of myself as a pretty shy person who sometimes does a good job of faking otherwise. I guess as you mature and gain experience with putting yourself out there in the world that gets easier to do. But inside I think I will always be the shy little high school girl with braces, a bit of a dreamer who liked to disappear for days into a great book and who occasionally penned her own little snippets, the best of which contained naughty words a “good girl” most definitely should not be accustomed to using in any such fashion.

Yes, I’ve had my share of shame over writing what I do. I blogged about it here. And last night I shared the fact that because of that shame, in my head I had been treating my writing the same way I would as if I had done a huge poo in the middle of a room. Run away! Deny responsibility! Feign innocence! If someone says, ‘That’s disgusting!’ agree and shake your head sadly.

I also shared coming across this post from Ashley Lister on Justine Elyot’s blog and how watching these authors read for an audience, for me in that moment, was like watching them … stand beside their poo. Proudly. Confidently. Without a moment of shame.

I was horrified.

And mesmerized.

And I could Not. Stop. Thinking about it.

I wanted to contact someone here in Adelaide and say, okay! Twist my arm. Sign me up. I’m game. I’ll give it a shot. But there was no such event. There is no Ashley Lister Down Under. So if I wanted to do this, if I wanted to have this experience, I would have to create it. And to do that, I would have to step WAY out of my comfort zone.

Hence the birth of Sex In Words. With the totally supportive and open-minded help of the team at Dymocks Adelaide I was able to put together an event for authors to showcase explicit scenes in their work for everyone to enjoy. And on top of that, thanks to our sponsors, Sweetmeats Press and Xcite Books, we were able to offer guests some great ebook swag! Yup, those in attendance can help themselves to 50% off downloads of Made For Hire and Sweet. Sweeter. And they can get Nymphomania for free! Now don't cha wish you joined us?? *

Angela Castle shared a fun and totally sexy shower scene from The Purrfect Picture, Book 2 of her Australian Shifter series. Kate Belle read an intense and thrilling moment from her tale of forbidden lust and love in The Yearning. And yes, I shared too. A fun little story called Spinning that will be published next year.

I stood beside my poo.

Okay, what I write is not poo. Well, maybe it is to some people… but it’s not to me! And I’m not thinking of it that way any longer. I should probably change the title of this blog post. But it’s kinda funny so I’m not going to.

But here’s something else. Another secret, while I’m laying all my cards out on the table. I went a little easy on myself last night. I figured since hosting an event and reading my work aloud are two totally new and scary experiences, I would give myself a break in choosing what to read. Now don’t get me wrong, Spinning is a great story, I’m really proud of it! It’s a style I’ve always wanted to try my hand at. But it’s not my typical fare. In fact, it’s the only story I’ve ever written without an ounce of kink.

It’s one scary experience to read about sex aloud. But, generally speaking, all adults have sex. Not all of them have kinky sex. And Spinning aside, that’s what I write about. Kink. BDSM. Dominance and submission. So hang onto your floggers, everyone, cause that’s where we’re going next. Don't have a flogger? We just may be able too hook you up. *gasp!* 

Oh yes, we have plans for the next Sex In Words! **

KC

*Okay, if you email me and ask nicely, I may just be persuaded to pass on the promo code for the free/discounted books. If you follow me on Twitter, I'll be even happier!

**You want a sneak peek of me reading some kinky stuff? Come to my book launch for the print version of Made For Hire, July 26th at the South Australian Writers Centre! Deets to follow...

Lots happening

My, I do have trouble keeping things current here, don’t I? What are you going to do with me? I can only assure you, dear friends, that I have been a busy little smut peddler indeed. 

Last week I finished and submitted the third book in my Draper Estates Trilogy! Hurrah, and at long last! Now begins the nerve racking time where I sit around and wait for the verdict from my Xcite Books editor. Perhaps because this book is the conclusion of the trilogy I am more nervous than usual about it. I hope the editor shares my vision for how the characters evolve and where the story ends up. And I hope you will too! I will give you more news about publication as soon as I have it. 

I am eagerly anticipating publication of the new Sweetmeats Press anthology, Made For Hire, which will include my short story “Sweet. Sweeter.” and will be out at the end of this month! Friends, I am really proud of my contribution in this work. Although it’s a short story, at over 12 000 words it is at the longer end of the spectrum for me, so you are getting a lot of bang for your buck (both literally and figuratively). 

But don't take my word for it. Kojo Black, who compiled the anthology said, “I felt like I wanted to lick my fingers clean after I read it. It's sweet and sensual, dirty and rude, sexy and deeply sexual all at the same time.” What an endorsement! I have just seen the cover and it’s very dark, sexy, cool and understated. Love! Stay tuned for an exciting cover reveal! 

At the beginning of the month I was over at the charming and delightfully funny Ashley Lister’s blog talking about what a naughty, little smut writer I am… er, I mean, how to write erotic fiction. Check it out here. 

Next week, I’ll be over at the prolific and talented Kay Jaybee’s blog. There I will open up about some struggles I’ve had with writing about sex and what I’m doing about it (see Dymocks paragraph below). It’s an intensely personal post and I hope you’ll have a read and let me know your thoughts. I’m always interested in your comments! Stay tuned for the link. 

And best for last! I am thrilled (and by thrilled, I mean completely petrified) about my upcoming erotica reading event with Dymocks Adelaide on June 25th. Get all the details about it from their website here. 

Friends, I have never read my work aloud before, to say nothing about hosting an entire event like this! The extent of my public speaking experiences pretty much begins and ends with the two times I’ve served as matron of honour at weddings… and I had to be half in the bag just to manage my fear over those. I know I am the one who pushed to make this event happen but as the date looms closer and closer I’m pretty much freaking out and wondering what the heck I’ve gotten myself into. Are you in Adelaide and want to see whether I pull it off or crash and burn? Come on out! 

Seriously, the main reason to attend is to see two fabulously talented authors, Kate Belle and Angela Castle, who are coming all the way from Victoria to participate, read their work. And ha, I’m not the only one who’s nervous about reading sex scenes aloud! Check out what happened to Kate at her most recent event. Friends, it’s going to be hot, sexy, fabulous fun so come and join us! Remember to RSVP to Dymocks at the email address indicated in the link. 

That’s all for now, but come back soon to hear about my very first book launch coming up at the end of July… 

Love, 

KC