Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Does it make ya wanna cryyyyy?

Last weekend I was out of town. My daughter and I headed to Dallas to do some things, head for the malls, that sort of thing. We'd signed her up for heavy-duty aptitude testing to give her some good ideas about things she might major in when she goes off to college this fall. All very scientific.

Anyway, I sat for hours waiting for her and I took along some books to keep me company. Recently I've become friends with author, Bronwyn Green. Bron writes for Ellora's Cave, Total E Bound, and Resplendence. Very talented. Know what I loooove about her work? The emotional punch she packs. Sure her work is ero/rom but it's not all about the mechanics of the sex acts, but about the way the characters FEEL when they are doing them. I like to think that's something I bring to my stories, too. Lately, I've read a lot of what I'd have to say are good books but they lack that POP, that emotional SIZZLE, that I've found I want in a good story.

Do you want to hug the book when it's over? Do you sigh and think....WOW! That MOVED ME!

I know publishers push for more and more sex, more kink, more, more, more but damn, don't they want some story with that? I certainly do. I don't want to read a gluttonous display of over the top sex featuring wooden characters who apparently have no feelings other than the physical kind. I want to know what she's thinking when the hero touches her in a certain way. I want to know if the hero is moved by more than her bedroom moves and if he IS moved...why?

To me, the added details of what makes a character behave the way they do is what makes a good story. Yes, I write sex. A lot of sex. But you know what? I'm going to have some story too.


Other News:

Please head out to Ellora's Cave today and check out Barbara Huffert's newest. Hot Rush is an action packed romp you won't want to put down.

Buy it here!

Blurb:

Rick Jensen is working undercover to bust up the largest drug distribution in the city’s recent history. Everything is going as planned until the hottest redhead he’s ever seen comes storming into the warehouse. Now if only he can stop thinking with his cock long enough to save her luscious ass and convince her that love at first sight really does exist.

Being sentimental has always been Casey Carmichael’s downfall. But this time her impulsiveness lands her right in the middle of a full contingent of heavily armed drug dealers. When one of them tosses her over his shoulder and carries her up to the office the last thing she expects is out of control sex with the undercover cop trying to protect her.

8 comments:

Kelley Nyrae said...

I love a good emotional read! Emotions are a MUST for me.

Regina Carlysle said...

Yep. Ya gotta FEEL it. Maybe it a WOMAN THING. We need that emotional connection. Otherwise, it's pretty much a waste of time.

Anny Cook said...

Best book I ever read was Morning Glory by LaVryle Spencer. It was a keeper in a way that we don't see now days.

I suspect in the e-market, the publisher isn't interested in allowing time for the h/h to develop the relationship to that extent.

Sigh... That would be nice, no?

Regina Carlysle said...

I loved Morning Glory. I still recall the scene where he was sitting at the breakfast table, so grateful for the food and kindness that he dropped his head in his hands and cried. I'll never forget that. Wasn't she a wonderful writer?

Bronwyn Green said...

Thanks so much for the mention - you are so sweet!!!

I'm all about feeling the emotional punch - if I can't feel it, I don't want to read it, and I figure no one else does either. That's why I love your stuff, Rita!!!

A few years ago, I read Talk Before Sleep by Elizabeth Berg at a friend's insistence. If you haven't read it, it's about this woman with breast cancer - great but awful book. Like an idiot, I brought it to read while waiting to see the doctor. I got to the end and I was sobbing like a lunatic in the waiting room and I realized there was a little girl just staring at me.

She looked at her dad and says, "Why dat yady cyin?"

Her dad looked at me like I was the freak of the week and said, "I don't know, honey."

So the little girl came up to me and asked, "Hey yady, why cyin?"

I said, "Because I'm reading a sad book."

Now the kid looked at me like I was the freak of the week and she said, "Why?"

I said, "Well, my friend told me I should read it." (which, when I said it aloud, sounded super lame)

The little girl squinted at me and said, "You're friend is MEAN."

It was hilarious and awful at the time, but I'll never forget the emotion that book wrung out of me. It was a really powerful story. I'd like to tell a powerful story too, but I want mine to have happy endings. I don't want anyone crying in waiting rooms on my account! :D

Bronwyn Green said...

GUH! Stupid me!!! I forgot to say YAY BARB!!!!!

Anne Rainey said...

Ah, I love a good tear-jerker.
I don't want them ALL the time, but every so often it's nice and they stay with you forever too!

Congrats, Barb!

Fran Lee said...

Absolutely a great read!